Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong personally presented the certificates of appointment at a ceremony in Munich on Monday. Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, CEO of Symrise AG, Dr. Roland Gerner, Senior Advisor to the Executive Board at Heraus Group and Dr. Erich Erber, founder and CEO of Erber AG, were named in the ceremony.
All three companies represented by the newly named economic ambassadors to Singapore have been a presence in the southeast Asian city state for over two decades. Their investments in production sites, regional distribution and innovation centers, as well as regional company headquarters on site, reinforce the joint vision of the global market leaders and Singapore, which is to establish new business ideas in Singapore and in the wider region as trustworthy, long-term partners.
With the appointment, companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, especially small to medium-sized high-tech companies looking to gain a foothold in the Asian market, can now make use of the new ambassadors’ expertise and networks. The EBD established the economic ambassador program in 2015, in order to create a reliable network of successful executives who have experience operating in the Asian market. The economic ambassadors can advise and make recommendations to companies striving for financial growth in Asia.
Over 3,000 companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland are already operational in Singapore. As a result, Singapore has benefited from considerable investments in advanced manufacturing technologies and innovation over the previous two years. With support from and under the direction of the economic ambassadors and market insiders, the EBD wants to further develop its dialogue with potential investors from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The program allows interested companies to plan a successful entry into the Asian market, using Singapore as a location to broaden their experience in the region.
“Due to its clear legal framework and prevailing respect for intellectual property, Singapore is an important location for Symrise in terms of research, development and production,” said Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, Chief Executive Officer at Symrise AG
About the Singapore Economic Development Board
The Singapore Economic Development Board (EBD) is the leading government agency for the planning and development of strategies to further expand Singapore’s position as a global economic center. The EBD offers solutions which make Singapore an attractive location for investors and companies and which generate significant added value. Its aim is to create sustainable and dynamic economic growth, accompanied by a flourishing employment market in Singapore.
