Posted: 03 May 2007 1627 hrs

SINGAPORE: Online search engine Google said Thursday it has opened an office Singapore to be closer to its customers and advertisers in southeast Asia, which boasts a market of half a billion people.

"The online environment in southeast Asia is growing rapidly, with significant developments in broadband Internet access and e-commerce activities," Richard Kimber, Google's regional managing director, said in a statement.

"We are pleased to have our newest operations in Singapore, where we can draw from the highest quality talent to further help our users find the information they're looking for, and at the same time, help local and regional businesses succeed."

Google declined to say how much it has invested in the Singapore office.

Singapore is one of southeast Asia's most technology-friendly economies and one of the most wired countries in Asia.

The government is seeking to attract high-tech industries as it moves away from the traditional manufacturing sector. – AFP/yy

  

Google is also in discussion with the singapore government for openign a research and development centre.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/274001/1/.html

Does anybody know the address of the new Google office in singapore??? Very interesting i think!