Singapore: Roche Diagnostics has inaugurated its Asia Pacific headquarters and regional centre of excellence in Singapore with an invetsment of around $6 million (SGD 8.4 million) in its new facility.

The new centre of excellence houses a training Centre which features the latest systems across all diagnostics areas as well as a new second line technical support centre for customers in Asia Pacific.

"This investment further demonstrates our commitment to Singapore and the strategic importance of Asia Pacific for Roche Diagnostics. Asia Pacific is home to about 4.1 billion people and is a rapidly developing and growing region with many challenges in the healthcare delivery. Diagnostics is a key factor in providing sustainable and efficient healthcare," said Mr Lance Little, managing director, Roche Diagnostics Asia Pacific.

"With a direct presence in 15 countries throughout the region, the location of our regional headquarters is an important part of a strategy that will allow us to provide better service through our diagnostic capabilities across the entire healthcare space," he further said.

"Many leading companies have established their regional headquarters in Singapore to support the growing markets in Asia Pacific. Singapore is committed to strengthening its innovation and commercialization ecosystem for diagnostics products and services. We welcome Roche Diagnostics' decision to further strengthen its Asia Pacific headquarters by establishing its regional Centre of Excellence in Singapore, and look forward to deepening this close partnership further," said Ms Thien Kwee Eng, assistant managing director, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).