SINGAPORE: More than 1,000 highly skilled jobs will be created when the six biologics plants being implemented in Singapore are fully operational, said Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

These jobs will appeal to fresh graduates and mid-career professionals from related sectors such as the chemicals, electronics and processing sectors, said Mr Tharman at the opening of Roche Singapore's manufacturing plant at Tuas Biomedical Park yesterday.

"Singaporeans will have the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth sector at the frontiers of science and technology, manufacturing cuttingedge and globally trusted medicines for patients around the world," he said.

Biologics include a wide range of medical products, such as vaccines, blood and blood components.

In the last four years, leading companies have invested about US$2 billion (S$2.8 billion) to set up six commercial-scale manufacturing plants here.

"This is a strong endorsement of the foundation we have laid for cutting-edge biomedical manufacturing, leveraging on the availability of skilled manpower, bioprocessing capabilities and a strong base of engineering- services companies," said Mr Tharman.

Roche's US$500-million manufacturing site is the company's first biologics facility in the Asia-Pacific. Roche is the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management.