REGIONAL OFFICES IN SINGAPORE: SPATIAL AND STRATEGIC INFLUENCES IN THE LOCATION OF CORPORATE CONTROL

This paper reports a postal questionnaire survey of 130 regional offices in Singapore. The survey examines location decisions, current location evaluation and business objectives of regional offices. The extent to which competition for regional offices is possible among Asian business centers and the regional development consequences of business strategy linked to regional offices are assessed. Variations among regional offices according to country of origin and year of establishment are analyzed. The survey concludes that Singapore retains its lead as a center for regional offices, but that the sources of its attractiveness are changing and that it is not gaining from any relocation of corporate control out of Hong Kong. Public policy incentives to attract regional offices in competition to Singapore may be most successful if aimed at Asian organizations. Promotion to offices from North America and Europe should emphasize the relative growth opportunities in Southeast and East Asia.