For Singapore to become a global culinary capital, companies in the food industry need to collaborate so that they can stay competitive and relevant to the world, said Minister for Trade and Industry, Lim Hng Kiang, on Wednesday.

Mr Lim said: "On their own our companies may be too small and lack the economies of scale to innovate and invest in new technology." He suggested three areas in which companies can work together: product development, sharing facilities and internationalisation.

Mr Lim was speaking at the inaugural Food Productivity Conference 2013 where he also gave updates on the food services and food manufacturing productivity plans launched in Singapore in 2011.

More than 850 food companies have embarked on productivity and service upgrading projects. The Food Automation Unit launched in October last year to help companies automate their processes reached out to over 170 food manufacturers and there are 10 projects in the pipeline.