Marking a major strategic milestone for the company, Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG, is investing €52 million in Singapore’s economy over the next three years. The investment includes a brand new €35 million building at Changi Business Park, Singapore, which will be the first global hub outside the company’s headquarters in Germany.
The company broke ground on 25 April 2012 to commemorate this major strategic milestone for Rohde & Schwarz, with the facility targeted for completion by the fourth quarter of 2013. With an area of 12,747 square meters, the new facility will house two important entities: namely Rohde & Schwarz Asia, which serves as a global hub for R&D, engineering and production; and Rohde & Schwarz Regional Headquarters, which manages the businesses in the Eastern Hemisphere – comprising Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa – worth more than a third of Rohde & Schwarz’s net revenue.
To further enhance its global footprint in Singapore and to fortify its presence in the Eastern Hemisphere, the company is injecting additional share capital in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rohde & Schwarz Asia Pte Ltd. As a global hub, the company has also expanded its existing system engineering operations to include other key activities and functions that are normally conducted in Munich. These include product charter responsibility, full scale R&D, production and supply chain.
“Our presence in Singapore and the region has grown exponentially since we first began here in 1997. This new facility is a clear signal of our strong commitment to Singapore, and will give us the space to expand through a vast scope of higher value-added activities, including capital investment and knowledge-intensive work like innovative product development and R&D,” said Gerhard Geier, President and Chief Operating Officer, Rohde & Schwarz.
“We are pleased that Rohde & Schwarz has chosen Singapore to site its first global business hub outside of Germany to serve the region. Singapore’s pool of highly skilled manpower, strong manufacturing base and R&D capabilities offer Rohde & Schwarz an ideal location to strengthen its business footprint in Asia. I firmly believe that Singapore’s business-friendly environment and strategic location will contribute to Rohde & Schwarz’s growth and success,” added Yeoh Keat Chuan, Assistant Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board.