SINGAPORE -- 18 January 2000 -- Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, and the Singapore Government have taken an important step in their partnership with the first batch of Training and Attachment program (TAP) trainees bound for Cisco's headquarters in Silicon Valley.

Cisco Systems will initially host eight trainees for 18 months in its US headquarters in a variety of engineering positions. The trainees will gain exposure to next-generation Internet and networking technologies and solutions and even contribute to their development.

"This partnership with Cisco under TAP is an important milestone for our manpower development efforts in our info-communications sector. Through more of such manpower development efforts, we aim to attract more R&D and manufacturing, and build Singapore into a hotbed of activities in this explosive industry," said Mr Liew Heng San, Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board.

Said Bill Chang, Managing Director of Singapore, Cisco Systems: "The Internet Economy poses several challenges to countries, chief among those are the development of a workforce that possess the necessary skills and knowledge to compete. As the leading provider of Internet equipment and the leading practitioner of Internet business, Cisco is uniquely qualified to help companies and countries develop those skill sets. We are doing this through education and training of our employees, partners and customers. And we have taken that now to secondary and tertiary schools with the Cisco Networking Academy Program. This program is now running in more than ten schools in Singapore. TAP is another way for us to provide that technology transfer. The trainees will be placed in some of our key business units such as Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software where they will have hands-on experience in product research and development."

Chong Chin Kiat, one of the trainees, was upbeat about the 18-month stint: "I am excited to be offered this internship. For someone my age it's an enviable opportunity to be able to live and work in the Silicon Valley, where it's all happening in the technology world. For an engineering student, there's no better place to be and I am thankful to the EDB and Cisco Systems."

TAP is a S$50 million program launched in October 1998 by the Singapore Economic Development Board which enables young, talented Singaporeans to go abroad to learn new, cutting-edge technologies in manufacturing and international services.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at http://www.cisco.com.

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