Speech - Address by Mr. Ganessaraj Soocelaraj, Group CEO, SBCG, at the MOU Signing Ceremony between ITE and Soilbuild Construction Group Ltd, on 22 March 2022, 1515hrs at ITE College East

Mr. Tan Kiat How

Minister of State

Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Communication and Information, 

Mr. Neo Choon Keong

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Building and Construction Authority

Ms. Low Khah Gek 

CEO of the Institute of Technical Education (ITE)

Mr. Lim Chap Huat

Executive Chairman

Soilbuild Construction Group Ltd

Friends from BCA and ITE

Students of ITE

Ladies and Gentleman,

1. Good afternoon. Thank you for making time to join us today to witness the MoU signing between ITE and Soilbuild Construction Group Ltd (SBCG) on the Cooperation for Skills Development in the Built Environment sector.                                  

2. This collaboration is a significant step towards providing capability development opportunities for ITE students and staff, in the areas of Construction and Prefabrication Technologies. We will achieve this through student internships, learning journeys, sharing sessions, staff attachments and joint projects among others. We will celebrate the achievements of deserving graduates through book prizes and course medals. Besides delivering the required training courses together, we will work towards certifying Soilbuild as a Certified On-the-Job Training Centre. 

3. This MoU signing could not have come at a better time. The on-going challenges faced by the sector with the COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted the pressing need to develop resilience within our local core. Coupled with the sector’s on-going transformation, we must continue to prepare our local workforce with the necessary skills and disposition to take on the improving opportunities. In this regard, SBCG stands ready to assist in the transfer of knowledge and expertise for people development for the Built Environment sector.  

4. ITE students offer unique skillsets that are highly useful for the industry. Jeffrey, who recently took on a Work-Study Diploma in Built Environment (Mechanical & Electrical Services Supervision) under the Soilbuild and ITE partnership framework, is one example. He graduated with a NITEC in Electrical Technology in 2010 and worked across various roles in the past 11 years, he was eventually attracted to the prospects offered in the Built Environment. Jeffrey decided to upgrade his skills through the programme and is now contributing as a Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) Supervisor at Soilbuild Integrated Construction and Prefabrication Hub (ICPH). 

5. It is our hope that the partnership will inject further buzz and inspire more ITE students to explore career pathways in the sector. Opportunities are aplenty, especially with the push towards greater adoption of offsite manufacturing which relies more on niche skillsets rather than the conventional laborious works at construction sites. In thisaspect, ITE students can certainly look forward to wide-ranging roles across the various work disciplines - roles such as a BIM Modeller, Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) Supervisor, Resident Technical Officer (RTO), and Facilities Management (FM) Supervisor. I am confident that the future remains bright and promising for our ITE graduates who eventually enter the sector. 

6. The Built Environment transformation journey is a long and arduous one and can only be achieved through a collective effort by all stakeholders. The MoU today reflects SBCG’s unwavering commitment in forging strong strategic partnerships with industry stakeholders, to meet the demands of tomorrow. I look forward to many more meaningful and enriching partnerships in the near future.  

7. In conclusion, I would like to thank our Guest-of-Honour, Minister Tan, for taking the time to witness this momentous occasion. I would also like to thank Ms. Low and her team for their support in making this partnership a reality. Let’s keep moving together.