Two business leaders in advanced manufacturing awarded Public Service Star

SINGAPORE – Two senior business leaders were conferred national awards by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam for their contributions to Singapore’s economic development.

The Public Service Star (Distinguished Friends of Singapore) was presented to Mr Tsutomu Tannowa and Dr Roland Busch at a July 3 ceremony at the Istana.

Mr Tannowa is chairman of the board of Mitsui Chemicals, and Dr Busch is president and chief executive officer of German tech conglomerate Siemens AG.

The award, initiated by the Economic Development Board (EDB) in 1998, recognises top executives in the corporate sector for their outstanding contributions to the economic growth of Singapore.

Between 1998 and 2024, 51 senior business executives were conferred the Public Service Star (Distinguished Friends of Singapore) award.

EDB chairman Png Cheong Boon said: “Under the leadership of Mr Tannowa and Dr Busch, Mitsui Chemicals and Siemens have made significant investments in manufacturing, innovation, and workforce development in Singapore, benefiting our economy, enterprises, and people.

“The expansion of both Mitsui Chemicals’ and Siemens’ regional hub operations here has strengthened Singapore’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem and reinforced our competitiveness.”

Mitsui Chemicals has invested over $1 billion in Singapore since establishing its presence here in 1966.

Under Mr Tannowa’s leadership, the Japanese chemicals manufacturer has significantly expanded its capabilities and talent pool in Singapore, which serves as its regional headquarters and hosts three manufacturing sites.

The company has expanded its proprietary elastomer plant, launched a speciality optical coating factory to meet Asia-Pacific production, and established a manufacturing facility for high functional sealant films here.

Mr Tannowa also championed the establishment of Mitsui Chemicals Singapore R&D Centre, the company’s first such facility outside Japan. The centre supports global research and development efforts in advanced materials, while promoting local innovation and sustainability initiatives.

Meanwhile, Dr Busch led Siemens’ expansion of its Advanced Manufacturing Transformation Centre here in 2021, which has supported Singapore’s digital capability building and workforce development.

The centre enables smaller companies that want to build advanced manufacturing plants to create digital versions first, to simulate, assess and optimise their operations and infrastructure before taking the plunge.

Siemens is building a $293 million high-tech factory in Singapore, set to open in 2026, to produce industrial automation and digitalisation technologies.

The facility will be the first of its kind in South-east Asia, utilising digital twins and artificial intelligence. This investment in Singapore is set to create 400 jobs.

Both leaders said they were deeply honoured to be conferred the award.

Mr Tannowa said: “Singapore has served as the hub for our business in the Asia-Pacific. We have spearheaded numerous business developments and expansions, and the country continues to play an important role for the Mitsui Chemicals Group.”

Dr Busch said Singapore has been a valuable partner to Siemens for the past 117 years, and both have witnessed breakthrough innovations together, such as in semiconductor manufacturing, water technologies R&D, and digital transformation of industries and infrastructure.

“Singapore is a key hub in our global investment strategy, and we’re committed to deepening our presence here,” he added.