Austin centre links Singapore to Texas and broader US, Deputy PM Gan says

US expansion links SEA trade flows with Texas industrial growth.

Enterprise Singapore's Austin Overseas Centre in Texas will serve as a bridge that will support Singapore companies entering the US market and help Texas firms expand into Asia, Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, said.

He said the move reflects Singapore’s confidence in Texas as a gateway for opportunities in energy, advanced manufacturing, and technology.

The global economy is facing increased geopolitical contestation and geoeconomic fragmentation as countries shift towards onshoring, reshoring, and self-sufficient supply chains.

"For economies like ours — open, connected, and trade-dependent — self-sufficiency is neither practical nor optimal," he said. "It would narrow our access to markets, constrain opportunities for growth, and ultimately hamper our ability to respond to shocks."

The launch also comes as the two countries celebrate their long-standing relationship, which has led to major Singapore investments in the US supporting more than 350,000 jobs and more than 250 Singapore companies operating across the country, including in Texas.

The US has recorded a trade surplus with Singapore for more than two decades, reaching over $42.03b (US$33b) last year.

Gan said Singapore is a global hub for energy trading, refining, and financing, enabling cooperation across production, trading, logistics, and energy transition systems; while Texas is expanding its capacity in semiconductors, electronics, and industrial systems, with Austin emerging as a centre for manufacturing and engineering.

Additionally, Singapore is strengthening its advanced manufacturing base, focusing on innovation, process development, and high-value activities.

Both sides can link innovation ecosystems in artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies, energy technology, and life sciences. Singapore has introduced a refreshed national AI strategy, he said.

The new centre is expected to support investment flows between Texas and Singapore, facilitate partnerships in energy, manufacturing, and technology, and support business expansion in both regions.

(US$1 = SG$1.27)