SINGAPORE -- 21 June 2001 -- Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, officially opened its new regional office in Singapore in Capital Tower. The company also announced the establishment of a manufacturing centre in the country. Mr Gordon Astles, Cisco's President for Asia Pacific and Mr Lim Swee Say, Acting Minister for Environment and Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, inaugurated the new office at a ceremony today.
"Singapore is one of our critical bases of operation in the Asia Pacific region. The country plays a crucial role in our ability to provide leading Internet technologies and customer service and support," said Mr Astles. "Singapore's excellent infrastructure and the government's commitment to the Internet have been key factors in our decision to expand here."
"We welcome the move by Cisco, the world's number one player in networking equipment, to locate its regional operations in Singapore. This is very much in line with our efforts to strengthen Singapore's position as a leading business and innovation hub in the Asia Pacific," said Mr Lim.
Cisco's operations management, marketing, customer service, finance, HR and business units are based in the country. The company received "Operational Headquarters" status from the Singapore government in 1998. Singapore is one of Cisco's major regional centres in the Asia Pacific.
Cisco's new office will utilize leading-edge technologies such as IP Telephony and Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN). Every workstation is equipped with a Cisco IP Phone and employees can access the corporate network using Cisco Aironet WLAN equipment.
The office also houses multi-million dollar technology labs and showcase facilities equipped with the latest Cisco internetworking equipment. These provide partners and customers in the region access to next-generation technologies such as IP+Optical, Virtual Private Networking, Voice over IP, MPLS, and home networking.
Cisco also announced that it is locating its Asia Manufacturing operations in Singapore. The group will oversee all aspects of Cisco's contract manufacturing operations in the region. Cisco out sources a majority of its product manufacturing to a network of contract manufacturing partners. These firms are tightly integrated into Cisco's internal network allowing them to function as extensions of the company. Asia is expected to play an increased role in the company's global manufacturing system in order to lower costs and shorten customer lead times.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at www.cisco.com.
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