Location, Location, Location! Selecting The Ideal Site For Your Business

When it comes to choosing a space for your business, one of the major factors to consider would be the location. With the right kind of premises and good accessibility, you can gain access to a wellspring of valuable resources and even attract talents, helping your business to thrive. Read on to find out about the advantages of locating at various regions of Singapore and how certain regions might work better for your industry.

East – For Global Connectivity

The East has always been known for its proximity to the Changi Airport, and this is undoubtedly a significant pull factor for companies that rely heavily on air connectivity to set up their operations there. For instance, logistics properties in the East such as Changi Logistics Centre, 21 Changi South Avenue 2 and Xilin Districentre A & B, would appeal to logistics and supply chain companies that require quick and easy access to air freight services as they are just minutes’ drive to the airport.

With the realisation of the Changi Region transformation, the East is set to further attract industries and companies as it creates a vibrant live-work-play-learn ecosystem around the airport. In the near future, companies located in the region will also get to enjoy greater connectivity with the upcoming Cross Island Line, which will complement existing MRT lines and reduce travel time to the Changi Region. When the world is safe to travel again, there is also potential for seamless “fly-ferry” linkages with the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal at the doorstep of the future Terminal 5.

Businesses in the East can also look forward to the rejuvination of the Paya Lebar-Ubi district with the announced relocation of Paya Lebar Airbase. The airbase and its surrounding industrial developments will progressively transform into a highly liveable and sustainable new town, bringing jobs and amenities closer to residents.

Additionally, the East is also home to the bustling Changi Business Park which hosts many leading technology corporations, as well as IT services and financial services companies such as Huawei and DBS Bank. Popularly known as the “Central Business District (CBD) of the East”, the park is part of the Changi Region Master Plan and boasts a vibrant business ecosystem with a wide range of exciting amenities, offering companies located here an integrated community environment to enable cross collaboration and partnerships.

The park is also strategically located near the Changi Airport, Changi Aviation Park and Singapore University of Technology and Design, which makes it a location of choice for businesses involved with freight transportation and aviation-related R&D too.

Discover more properties in the East here

West – Exciting Business Hub In Near Future

With the up-and-coming Jurong Lake District (JLD), Jurong Innovation District (JID) and Tuas Port, exciting business opportunities await in the West.

Envisioned as Singapore's second CBD, the 360-hectare JLD is part of the government’s decentralisation efforts and will be the largest mixed-use business district outside the city centre. The commercial hub will serve the West with a vibrant mix of office, retail, residential, hotel and entertainment, and complemented with a leisure precinct, Lakeside. 

Locating at nearby business spaces, such as the well-established International Business Park, will be perfect for the healthcare industry. The senior living community can serve as a simulated safe environment for research and observation. Data can also be collected through remote monitoring by companies and the neighbouring hospitals and nursing facilities, such as Ng Teng Fong Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital, for further analysis and real-time application.

Besides, companies can also leverage upon its locational advantage of being situated amidst an expansive network of healthcare and eldercare facilities, offering an ideal location for a living laboratory for elderly healthtech.

With JLD being a test-bed for smart city solutions, R&D firms in IT and smart technologies industries will also be able to reap benefits by locating within a thriving ecosystem of leading research organisations.

Apart from these sectors, locating in the West is also favourable for companies in the manufacturing and data processing industries as they can gain easy access to the facilities at the upcoming advanced manufacturing hub, JID. Firms can leverage on the ecosystem of manufacturers, technology providers, researchers and education institutions, and look forward to plenty of collaboration opportunities.

Another major development in the West to look out for would be the new Tuas Mega Port. When fully completed in 2040, this next-generation port will be the world's largest fully automated terminal. Not only is this advantageous for the logistics and supply-chain companies, its global reach and connectivity can also benefit nearby factories with quicker production-to-market turnarounds.

If accessibility is a major factor for you in choosing a business space, you will be excited to know that the West will soon be very well connected to the rest of the island with six rail lines serving the region by 2035. This will provide tenants with greater accessibility and convenience.

Discover more properties in the West here

North – Mature Estates With Well-Established Infrastructure

In the North, the Ang Mo Kio light industrial area is a popular choice for many companies, particularly those in the precision engineering, electronics and semiconductor sectors. 

As a mature estate, Ang Mo Kio has a healthy ecosystem of startups, SMEs and MNCs, making it the perfect location for companies that wish to locate near their suppliers and clients within the industry. It also offers advantages like strong transportation networks and an array of amenities.

Ang Mo Kio is also one of the most populated estates in Singapore. This makes the nearby industrial developments suitable for companies that need to be located near consumers. For instance, the prime location of Techplace I has attracted last mile delivery players to locate within, to facilitate deliveries to residents living in and near the estate.

Furthermore, location is a key element in talent attraction. By locating near housing estates and in an area with well-connected transport network, it gives companies the competitive edge to attract a large workforce and talents.

Further up north, the new Woodlands Regional Centre will soon serve as a strategic centre for the Agri-Tech and Food Corridor spanning across the northern Singapore, running from Lim Chu Kang to Senoko in Sembawang. The area will include high-tech farms and food processing companies, presenting new opportunities for companies in the food industry to set foot in this cluster to gain access to the network of connected businesses.

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Central Region – Home of Innovation

This is where creativity and collaboration happen. With the successful development of one-north and Singapore Science Park, the Central Region has firmly established itself as a global and vibrant hub of innovation today. An icon of Singapore's knowledge economy, the 200-hectare district houses key growth sectors such as biomedical sciences, info-communications technology and media.

Being in the right space and community is critical for success and innovation. As part of the greater one-north, the campus-style Singapore Science Park is in close proximity to the National University of Singapore and the National University Hospital, as well as a host of other research institutes and organisations in one-north. This helps to foster a supportive environment for like-minded companies and professionals to collaborate and innovate, making it an ideal location for biomedical, R&D and technology companies from varied industries to set up their operations.

Within Singapore Science Park, there are multiple platforms and initiatives to help further encourage cross-networking and spur collaboration in R&D and innovation too. For companies looking for spaces to house their R&D activities, the development also features large and contiguous floor plates for efficient space planning, as well as purpose-built research units and fitted labs for cost and operational efficiency.

Beyond space, companies involved in advanced manufacturing, digital wellness, intelligent estates, smart mobility, sustainability, and urban agriculture, can also tap on the Smart Urban Co-Innovation Lab, Southeast Asia’s first industry-led lab located at The Galen in CapitaLand's 5G-enabled Singapore Science Park. This collaborative model provides a platform for local and overseas companies to exchange ideas, identify opportunities for new business models and innovations, as well as facilitate deployment of smart cities solutions. 

Discover more properties in the Central Region here

Ready to learn more about how the right business space can set you up for success? As one of the top business space solutions providers, CapitaLand has an extensive suite of space offerings including business parks, logistics and industrial spaces, available across the island. Discover them today.

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