UL expands technical services in Southeast Asia

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is expanding operations in Singapore to meet growing technical and customer services needs in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region. The planned investment includes increased engineering capabilities for the electronics, polymeric, and medical product categories, in particular. The services reportedly will enhance the ecosystem of other companies in the region such as HP, Oracle, and Sun Microsystems, who use Singapore as a testing ground for IT developments.

UL says its plans reflect efforts by the product safety testing and certification firm to be closer to its customers. During the inauguration of its new branch office in Singapore, Sajeev Jesudas, UL chief operating officer, said, “The Singapore office will play an important role in servicing our customers in the ASEAN region. With a larger presence, UL Singapore will be able to support certification needs of medical and high-tech customers in Singapore and neighboring countries.”

The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), which plans and executes strategies to promote global business and investment development in the area, welcomed UL at the opening ceremony. Said Kenneth Tan, director of the EDB services cluster, “The provision of UL’s services to the region adds to the ecosystem of similar companies already present here. It is a welcome boost to our aspiration to be a leading testing and certification hub in Asia.”

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