Singapore-based companies seeking to expand their presence in the United States will have increased support following the opening of a new office by Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) in Boston. The centre, launched on September 9, marks EnterpriseSG’s fifth US location and its first partnership at the state level, established through an agreement with the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment.
The collaboration aims to enhance ties between Singapore and Massachusetts-based businesses, investors, and research institutions, focusing on sectors such as life sciences, energy, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and artificial intelligence. EnterpriseSG managing director Cindy Khoo emphasized the importance of the US as a market for Singapore companies, noting a rising interest in recent years. Currently, more than 250 Singapore companies operate across 45 states, placing the US among Singapore’s top five overseas markets.
The Boston office will provide Singapore firms with valuable market intelligence, access to project opportunities, and connections to corporate partners, innovation ecosystems, and capital networks. Khoo highlighted Massachusetts as a strategic partner for Singapore tech companies on the East Coast due to its dynamic innovation environment and complementary strengths in deep technology. She added that the new presence would foster closer linkages between business and technology communities, potentially accelerating innovation and facilitating entry into broader US markets and beyond.
Law Minister Edwin Tong, who officiated the launch ceremony attended by around 90 representatives from the government, academia, and industry, expressed optimism that the new centre would expand Singapore’s footprint on the East Coast. He positioned Boston as a complement to EnterpriseSG’s existing office in New York, reinforcing the US as one of Singapore’s closest economic and strategic partners. Tong cited Singapore’s investment stock in the US, expected to reach about US$53 billion in 2025, making it the third-largest Asian investor after Japan and South Korea. He also noted the significant bilateral trade relationship, which supports more than 350,000 American jobs, with the US maintaining a trade surplus exceeding US$33 billion in 2025.
Tong pointed to examples of existing business ties, including a Singaporean firm providing engineering software to the US aerospace and defense sectors, and SATS, an air cargo handler and airline caterer, operating three cargo terminals at Boston Logan International Airport through its subsidiary Worldwide Flight Services.
Massachusetts is renowned for its leading research ecosystem, home to prestigious institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. Tong underscored that this complements Singapore’s role as a deep-tech and innovation hub in Asia, with both regions positioned to accelerate the commercialisation of emerging technologies.
Further, Tong highlighted shared strengths in advanced manufacturing, including medical technology, aerospace, and precision engineering, rooted in their industrial histories. He pointed out the potential for collaboration across the entire value chain, as well as opportunities to enhance connectivity and supply chain management given Massachusetts’ status as a New England hub and Singapore’s role as a gateway to Southeast Asia.
At the event, Tong witnessed the signing of the agreement between EnterpriseSG and the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment, formalizing the partnership intended to promote collaboration and innovation. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey welcomed the new office, stating it would link local companies with markets, investment, and partners in Southeast Asia, thereby strengthening the state’s economy and fostering the growth of innovative ideas at home.