The Smart Move: From entertainment to advanced manufacturing, here’s how four firms are using Singapore as a base to grow in Asia

TOHO Co.: Japanese entertainment giant sets sights on Singapore

If you have ever felt a thrill from hearing Godzilla’s roar, you’ve experienced the magic of TOHO. Now, this Japanese entertainment powerhouse, with a legacy spanning over 90 years, is writing its next chapter from Singapore.

Hiroyasu Matsuoka, who took over as TOHO’s chief executive officer in 2022, believes that for TOHO to grow, it would have to seize opportunities outside of Japan. Since then, TOHO is undertaking its most ambitious expansion yet, with eight acquisitions announced since 2022¹. In November 2024, TOHO Entertainment Asia (TEA) was set up in Singapore as a key base for the company’s expansion into Asia.

For TEA, Singapore’s multicultural community, proximity, and strategic access to the region is instrumental to the company’s efforts to connect with a regional audience and create market-specific content. That is why the Singapore office will focus on go-to-market strategies and localisation of their intellectual property (IP) for Godzilla and other TOHO animation titles like Jujutsu Kaisen (Anime of the Year 2024) and Spy x Family (Best Comedy Anime 2024).²

According to Koji Ueda, chief executive officer at TEA, “through our Singapore entity, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of our fans in each market. This will allow us to enhance fan engagement with our IPs and works and is part of our broader strategy to deepen our presence in Asia. Through this effort, we hope to bring even more joy to our audiences around the world.”   

Moving forward, TEA aims to better understand the distinct needs and preferences of each market in Asia – living up to their slogan, “Entertainment for YOU”. The company plans to grow its Singapore team over the next three years as they bring more iconic entertainment to Asian audiences.
 

Tulip Interfaces: MIT-born software company charts the future of manufacturing in Asia-Pacific (APAC)

“People will always be the most valuable resource of your operations” – this core principle drives Tulip Interfaces, a frontline operations software company spun out of the MIT Media Lab. Through their AI-enabled platform, Tulip’s solutions are helping companies equip their workforce with powerful digital tools. 

Tulip’s cloud-based platform allows frontline operations workers to take advantage of its composability and edge connectivity to enhance processes, guide operators, track production, and gain a real-time, holistic view of operations. 

The US-headquartered company already has offices in Germany and Hungary. But with its Asia-Pacific (APAC) manufacturing activities accounting for approximately one-third of global operations, Tulip recognised the region's strategic importance and in Jan 2024, decided to establish its APAC headquarters in Singapore. 

Since then, they have leveraged Singapore’s position as a business hub to gain direct access to regional manufacturing hubs. The vibrant tech ecosystem here – characterised by Industry 4.0 initiatives and a strong presence of advanced manufacturing players – meant Tulip had access to prospective clients. 

Beyond business development, Tulip is also growing its team to include solution engineers and technical specialists to ensure customers can effectively implement and benefit from their solutions.  

The company also intends to hire marketing and partnership managers, to support their intentions to connect with local institutes of higher learning for internship opportunities and with local and regional tech and research hubs.
 

Komax: Swiss precision finds its place in Singapore’s innovation ecosystem

From electric vehicles to smart factories, the world today runs on an intricate network of wires that power our modern lives. Where wires need to be processed, the Komax Group comes into play. The Swiss company’s expertise lies in cutting-edge automation solutions for high quality wire processing, serving industries like automotive, aerospace, semiconductors, and more. 

Komax Group started as a three-person startup back in 1975. Over the years, creativity and innovation remained central to the company as they expanded. Since 2020, the Komax Group has spent CHF282.8 million (S$445 million) on research and development (R&D) and commits about 8 per cent of revenue into R&D each year.³ 

So, when it came to capturing the Asian market, Singapore’s innovation ecosystem – along with our friendly business environment, talent pool, and access to the region – proved ideal.

Komax Singapore will be Komax’s Asia Centre of Competence for quality tools, focusing on developing cutting-edge products and solutions locally. The local subsidiary will strengthen its R&D capabilities through the recruitment of specialised engineers over the next three years. Beyond R&D, Komax Singapore's growth trajectory also includes bolstering its supply chain management, sales, and service capabilities.

As Komax Singapore builds its presence in Asia, it is set to play an increasingly pivotal role in the Komax Group’s global market strategy.
 

ACT Group: Powering Asia’s sustainable future from Singapore

Netherlands-based ACT Group wants to help businesses with the solutions they need to hit their environmental goals efficiently and transparently. And it is doing so from Singapore. 

The global leader in end-to-end decarbonisation and environmental impact solutions is stepping up its presence in APAC by establishing Singapore as its regional headquarters. For ACT Group, this move is a result of the region’s growing commitment to sustainability and Singapore’s emergence as a regional hub for carbon services and innovative climate solutions. 

Being based in Singapore allows ACT Group to better serve its Asia-based clients, while tapping into Singapore’s talent pool and collaborative ecosystem. The robust infrastructure, coupled with safety and stability, provides the foundation for the company to deepen its local engagement and expand its regional presence. 

Looking ahead, the ACT Group also plans to establish Singapore as its centre for impact for the wider APAC region. It is investing heavily in research and knowledge-building, while ramping up its capabilities in legal management, corporate sustainability, and climate project development.

The plan is for the Singapore office to grow the team over the next two years, with capabilities in R&D, climate project technical expertise, and commercial and business support. ACT Group is investing in the future of sustainable solutions in Asia, helping organisations in their sustainability journey, as compliance markets mature across the region. 
 

Singapore – a business hub for the world’s leading companies

Between 2013 and 2023, Singapore was the most popular destination for regional headquarters across APAC.⁴ International businesses call Singapore home, choosing to site global and regional functions, mandates, or business units here.

It is time to plug into a growing Asia, which is on track to account for half of global GDP by 2040, driving 40 per cent of the world’s consumption set to account for 50 per cent of global gross domestic product by 2040⁵, while Southeast Asia rises to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030. Benefit from Singapore’s business-friendly environment, skilled talent pool, and regional connectivity.
 

Want to set up your business in Singapore? Check out EDB’s Guide to Setting Up in Singapore for more information.

Check out our previous issue of “The Smart Move” here.
 

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References:

¹ Kim, S. Godzilla conquered Japan. Now, its owner plots a global takeover. Bloomberg, 18 Jul 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025 from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-17/godzilla-studio-toho-plans-more-films-sequels-anime-and-jujutsu-kaisen

² Spangler, T. Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2024: ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ Takes 11 Trophies, Including Anime of the Year (Full Winners List). Variety, 4 Mar 2024, https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/crunchyroll-anime-awards-2024-winners-list-jujutsu-kaisen-1235928308/

³ Business model and strategy | Komax.  https://www.komaxgroup.com/en/about-komax/business-model-and-strategy. Retrieved 30 Jun 2025.

⁴ Search parameters – (i) Business Function: Regional Headquarters and (ii) Status: Completed – confirmed. 2013-2023. Orbis Crossborder Investment Database.

⁵ Tonby, O., Woetzel, L., Choi, W., Seong, J., & Wang, P. Asia’s future is now. McKinsey & Company, 14 July 2019, https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/asia-pacific/asias-future-is-now