HIMA, a leading provider of safety related automation solutions for the Process and Railway industries, hosted the delegation from the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) as one leg of their visit to Singapore at their Customer Solutions Center on 17 January.
Amid diversifying the German market and growing across borders, Singapore has emerged as a key economic hub for businesses looking to grow within the Southeast Asian region. The German Embassy in Singapore noted that there is currently a presence of 2,200 German companies in Singapore, accounting for 45,000 jobs in a region poised to become the fourth largest economic area in the world come 2030.
Being a German Mittelstand in Singapore, HIMA was picked as a destination for the DIHK delegation to learn more about the company’s Southeast Asian experience. HIMA recognised the economic potential of Southeast Asia early on and saw Singapore as a strategic location within the region. After many years of involvement in Malaysia, HIMA Asia Pacific was founded in Singapore in 2011 in order to be able to develop further markets. In 2022, a Customer Solutions Center was added, where customers can experience the safety and security solutions of the safety expert on site.
Jörg de la Motte, Chief Executive Officer HIMA Group, said: “HIMA has had roots in Southeast Asia spanning three decades, identifying the region as a key segment for growth in the early 2000s. Amid the thousands of German businesses in Singapore, being selected to share our experience with the delegation from the DIHK was a true honour and testament to our work within the region. We hope that the delegation’s visit was beneficial in further understanding the workings within Singapore and the region.”
Friedhelm Best, Vice President HIMA Asia Pacific and Vice President of the Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce said: “There are many factors that make Singapore an attractive hub for businesses looking to grow within the region. Singapore is a melting pot of culture, is strategically located, supports business development, and is well governed, making it a fantastic regional springboard for German Mittelstand.”
In addition to touring the HIMA Customer Solutions Center to learn more about how German companies have benefitted from operating in Singapore, the DIHK delegation also visited the Ministry of Trade and Industry for a meeting with Gan Kim Yong, Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry.
The delegation also attended a dialogue with the Singapore German Chamber on Germany's Economic Landscape and Business Ties with ASEAN and Asia-Pacific, and visited the Singapore City Gallery to discover how Singapore was transformed from a fledging nation in the 1960s to a leading city in Asia today.
