Omega in Singapore
Published: 01.06.07
Employee Contribution: Kristine Breistrand
In October 2006, Omega established a subsidiary company in Singapore. International Coordinator, Kristine Breistrand recently travelled to Singapore in order to hire our first trainees from the region and offers us an insight into Omega's presence there.
Singapore is a country with its mind in the future and its soul in the past. The country is located in the south of the Malayan Islands, and is perhaps the country that has best catered for foreign investment. Here, 4.1 million inhabitants live spread over 700 square kilometres, and the average temperature is by far higher than what you'll find in Norway.
On October 17th 2006, Omega established a subsidiary company, Omega PS Singapore, with Ove Ivesdal as its CEO. Ove took his family with him from Houston and headed for the country ruled by the expats.
He only speaks well of the country where you get fined for chewing gum! Clean, nice, cheap food and plenty of sun.
Ove is, for the time being, Omega PS Singapore's only employee, and is on assignment on ConocoPhilips' Bohai Project. He and his family of four live in a nice apartment situated right outside the centre of the city. They also have a park, swimming pool and a training studio within walking distance of the apartment. Gyri (his wife) and Lars (his youngest child) have taken well to their new neighbourhood and the Seamen's Church play days.
Tiril (their daughter) has just started kindergarten. She finds good use for the English she learned in Houston and is starting to learn Chinese. To put it in other words, she's a little girl quickly becoming proficient in foreign languages!
In order to recruit local resources, Omega decided in February to apply for international trainees at universities in Singapore. We received many applications, and by the end of April, I was on my way down to Singapore to attend the interviews.
The interviews resulted in the hiring of two trainees who are scheduled to start at Omega on the 16th of July; Neo Wei Ling and Tian Hsiung Hoon. The two trainees will complete a trainee programme in Norway and the USA to ensure that they acquire a broad knowledge of Pims, Appframe and Omega.
Johnny Vik is responsible for the programme's design, and other members of the technology department will share their knowledge and experience with the newcomers.
In the meantime other employees continues to head south. Nils Arne Ramsvik is one team member who has been on assignment in Singapore on several occasions.
To other visitors to Singapore, he recommends Sentosa (Bathing Island), night safari at the Zoo, Holland Village (various places to go out for food, drinks and/or entertainment), Ministry of Sound (the world’s largest MOS), Orchard Road (shopping street) and Mohammed Sultan Road (street with many restaurants and bars).
In addition I would recommend Arabich Street (a cosy street with small houses and great food) and a Singapore Sling at Raffles.
I hope everyone welcomes our new trainees, and urge you all to visit Singapore. |