Tonny Loh (Area Director)

As a British colony in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Singapore was an entrepôt for the exchange of raw materials from Southeast Asia--mainly present-day Indonesia and Malaysia--for European merchandise. Our links with Europe did not cease with our independence in 1965, but instead strengthened as we build on our competitive advantages of a strategic location - lying on one of the busiest sea lanes (the Straits of Malacca) in the world, an excellent infrastructure and a skilled workforce to position ourselves as the regional hub for multi-national companies which wish to tap into Asia’s growth.

Today, amongst the 25 EU members, the UK and Germany are 2 of our largest trading partners. UK consistently ranks amongst the top 5 foreign investors in Singapore, with large investments in manufacturing and services. There is a significant presence of over 2100 UK companies in Singapore, among them, companies such as the Shell Group, BP Group, GlaxoSmithKline, Tate & Lyle, Rolls Royce and Reuters. The key industries of the British companies are pharmaceutical, petrochemical, aerospace and infocommunications and media. Amongst others, global banks, with European origins, like Barclays Capital, ABN Amro, Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC also have large operations in Singapore.

The links between Europe and Singapore are growing from strength to strength with an enlarged European Union and robust economic growths in both continents. The flow of not just goods and services, but also human capital has increased over the years. UK, Germany and France remain 3 of the most preferred destinations for international students globally. Every year, thousands of top Singaporean students seek higher education in Europe. Singapore, as a regional hub for finance, trade and logistics, also attracts large numbers of Europeans who want to carve a niche for themselves in Asia, setting up their career and family bases in Singapore.

Given Singapore’s cosmopolitan, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural make-up, this phenomenon is hardly surprising. With a large expatriate community, Europeans often find themselves instantly at home in Singapore, where English is the main medium of instruction and transaction. Summer all year round, Singapore, with its low costs and high standards of living, offers almost a paradise-like environment for aspiring Europeans who want to explore the Far East. With the presence of global multi-nationals and home-grown regional corporations, expatriates also get first-hand knowledge of and exposure to ways of working and conducting businesses in Asia by working out of Singapore.

Contact Singapore has an office in London to facilitate professionals and students' seeking of exciting careers in Singapore. Whether you are a student or professional, we will be happy to see how we can provide more information about working and living in Singapore. We also partner professional organisations, institutes of higher learning and student organisations to bring to you activities that profile Singapore’s key growth sectors, as well as to provide information on immigration and relocating to Singapore. We will be also happy to explore partnership opportunities with suitable organisations to promote Singapore as a career destination to your members.

Tonny Loh
Area Director

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Contact Details:
Contact Singapore
Singapore Centre
Grand Buildings
1-3 Strand
London WC2N 5HR
United Kingdom
(Please note that visits to our office is by prior appointment only)
Tel : (44) 207 484 2720
Fax : (44) 20 7839 6162
E-mail: london@contactsingapore.sg