The strategy of talent localisation

More Japanese companies set up their talent hub in Singapore

"Brand-name Japanese companies which have operations in Singapore are rolling out programmes to groom Singaporean employees, in a nod to the Republic's reputation as a talent hub", the Straits Times newspaper reported early last week.

Mr. Walter Sim, the newspaper's Japan correspondent, picked up recent few cases of talent strategies by Japanese firms.

Last month, Panasonic moved its refrigeration compression business unit to Singapore, to more effectively meet growing demand in Asia and streamline decision-making.

NEC Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, headquartered in Singapore, launched a 2 year talent-development programme last year. It has hired 9 trainees and looks to recruit up to 26 trainees by next year.

Mitsui Chemicals, whose Asia-Pacific division is also headquartered in Singapore, has been awarding scholarships and internships to polytechnic students, who can join the company as technicians upon graduation.

Mr. Alain Ong leading beverage maker Pokka Singapore as CEO, and Mr Richard Chua heading the Asia division of delivery service Yamato, both say the trend of hiring local - rather than deploying Japanese - is due to greater awareness that Japanese management methods do not necessarily work well outside Japan.

Singaporeans are taking the lead as Japanese firms go global.

Read more on the original articles here.


http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/singapore-a-talent-hub-for-japanese-companies