April 28, 2008

WPSA officers visit Singapore for site inspections

 

Officers of the World's Poultry Science Association (WPSA) visited Singapore recently to conduct site inspections in line with the process of selecting the host country for the 2016 World Poultry Congress.

 

The WPSA Singapore branch submitted a formal bid to host the 2016 WPC and is competing with China and the UK.

 

Dr Ruveyde Akbay, president of WPSA, led the group comprised of Vice President Dr Edir Nepomuceno Da Silva and Dr Piet Simons, secretary and assistant treasurer.

 

The officers and members of WPSA Singapore branch joined them in visiting key establishments all around the city.

 

Among the sites they checked were Fairmont Singapore, Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Sentosa, Carlton Hotel and the Metropolitan YMCA. 

 

In addition to these, the WPSA group had a tour at Chew's Agriculture Pte Ltd and Crown Pacific Biotechnology Pte Ltd, two companies which prove that the poultry and allied industries are very much alive in Singapore.

 

Chew's is one of the major egg suppliers in Singapore. Its farm is the first in the country to be ISO 9001:2000-certified and the first to implement Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point standards. It is the only layer farm with its own hatchery here. Their breeders are imported from France, Germany, the UK and the US.

 

Crown Pacific is a wholly owned company of Thailand-based Charoen Pokphand Group, the world's largest producer of feeds. The plant in Singapore manufactures premixes for livestock. It is equipped with advanced machinery and equipment and the processes are guided by highly sophisticated software.

 

Like Chew's, Crown Pacific follows HACCP standards and has ISO 9001:2000 certification.

 

Singapore's good infrastructure and its tourist attractions give it an edge from other competing countries, said WPSA Singapore President, Dr Chin Sou Fei.

 

Another advantage of holding the WPC in Singapore is its proximity to other Asian countries as well as the Middle East.

 

Aside from that, "We also have a group of professionals in Singapore which has knowledge about poultry issues in Asia or even all the world," Dr Chin said. "We have strong support from the Singapore government which ensures that this will be a very successful event," he added.

 

The WPSA has its roots in the early 20th century. The organisation aims to advance knowledge and understanding of all aspects of poultry science and the industry. It currently has about 7,000 members all over the world.

 

The 2008 WPC will be held on June 30 to July 4 at Brisbane, Australia. The country that will win the bid for the 2016 run will be announced during the congress.