SINGAPORE, Apr 1: An Indian pharmaceutical major is expected to set up a regional office in Singapore this year, while several other IT companies will join the growing number of Indian enterprises already operating out of the city state, a senior government official said today.
“This year we will be garnering more Indian IT investments into Singapore as well as potentially a pharmaceutical project as well,” Lee Eng Keat, International Director at Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB), told.
Lee however refused to name the pharma company that is likely to open its office in the island nation.
He was confident that more and more bio-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical companies would be locating their regional offices in Singapore.
Singapore-based institutes were undertaking advanced levels of medical, diseases and drug researches which would support Indian pharma companies’ global market plans.
Singapore was inviting international corporations in the field of pharmaceuticals to set up operations and business here, he said.
“We do feel that there are groups of companies in India that are looking into innovative drug developments and formulation capabilities and delivery mechanism,” said Lee, who recently returned from a business development campaign in India.
More than 4,500 Indian companies have set up operations in Singapore to globalise their businesses or trades, making it the largest business community in corporate Singapore, ahead of the Chinese, Malaysians and Indonesians.
The Indian companies have invested USD 14.11 billion between 2008-09 and 2011-12 in Singapore, said Lee citing data from the Reserve Bank of India.
“Singapore is becoming increasingly popular destination among Indian companies globalising their businesses. Singapore is seen (by Indian companies) as home away from home for their business growth on the international front because Asia is booming,” Lee said.
The Indian corporations were looking at advantages of Singapore’s free trade agreements with China, Australia and Southeast Asia.
“These treaties allow them to lower the tariff for their exports of goods into these markets,” said Lee.
Singapore was also offering basic financing need to these companies. (PTI)
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