EnterpriseSG urges Singapore firms to target smart tech, green economy in China
Enterprise Singapore has advised local companies to focus on smart technology, advanced manufacturing and the green economy when expanding into China. The agency highlighted China's vast market, manufacturing capabilities and supply chains as springboards for regional and global growth.
Singapore companies looking to expand into China should focus on growth sectors such as smart technology, advanced manufacturing and the green economy, said Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) during a media trip in Suzhou, Jiangsu. Mr Kow Juan Tiang, the statutory board's executive director for China, said opportunities remain abundant for firms offering innovative solutions, and that China's vast market, manufacturing capabilities and supply chains could serve as a springboard for expansion into Southeast Asia and beyond.
One Singapore company tapping into China's rapidly growing robotics sector is Xnergy, which develops contactless charging solutions for autonomous robots. Its co-founder and CEO, Mr Chin Foong Tong, said the company has witnessed exponential growth in the robotics industry since entering China in 2021. According to the International Federation of Robotics, China installed 354,000 industrial robots in 2025, accounting for about 60 per cent of global installations. Mr Chin noted that China's vast customer base and established supply chains have helped Xnergy develop and scale its technology. The company currently manufactures several thousand chargers annually but aims to increase production by as much as 100 times in the coming years, with China remaining its manufacturing base even as it serves overseas markets including South Korea, Japan and the United States.
Sustainability is another growth sector, supported by China's push towards a lower-carbon economy, which is among the priorities in the country's 15th Five-Year Plan covering 2026 to 2030. China has pledged to peak its carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. SP Group, drawing on two decades of experience operating Singapore's Marina Bay district cooling system, is expanding its district cooling network in Guangzhou Knowledge City, including a system serving a 53-storey tower. The first phase of the project spans 80ha, and the system also provides heating during colder months. SP Group's deputy managing director of sustainable solutions China, Mr Michael Lim, said the company is prioritising cost-effective, low-carbon energy solutions and plans to triple its capacity across China by 2030, targeting industrial and healthcare developments including semiconductor suppliers supporting the artificial intelligence boom.
China's economy was worth about US$20 trillion in 2025, and at annual growth of around 5 per cent, that translates to roughly US$1 trillion in additional economic output each year. However, EnterpriseSG acknowledged it is a tougher market than before, with a prolonged property slump, cautious consumer spending and intensifying competition. Mr Kow urged firms to understand local regulations and take steps to mitigate risks, while noting that Singapore is generally regarded as trustworthy with reliable products and solutions. He added that China's manufacturing network, supply chains and technological advances could help Singapore companies develop products and services for international markets, serving as a springboard for expansion within China, to other countries in Southeast Asia, or even globally.
