Beyond Cost Savings: Why Nord-Lock Ditched Singapore for Malaysia

“If you asked me what could be improved, I’d say maybe an agency that doesn’t only focus on the big players like Google and Microsoft, but also one that helps small and medium companies like us settle in.”

In this episode of Enterprise Explores, we take a closer look at the company’s decision to move its Southeast Asia regional office to Malaysia, why it’s not just a cost savings exercise, and what this says about the country’s growing reputation as a regional hub for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

We speak with Norbert Hentschel, Regional Managing Director of Nord-Lock Group, to discuss the factors that influenced this move, including labour force availability, logistics infrastructure, and the strategic advantages Malaysia offers over neighbouring countries.

Key Areas of Conversation:

- The main reasons behind Nord-Lock’s relocation to Malaysia, beyond just cost considerations.

- How Malaysia's stable government, multilingual workforce, and logistics infrastructure played a pivotal role in the decision.

- How Nord-Lock plans to grow its workforce and integrate into the local economy, including hiring for high-skilled roles and engaging with local suppliers.

- Malaysia’s potential to compete as a regional hub in Southeast Asia and why companies like Nord-Lock are choosing it over traditional hubs like Singapore.

- Norbert’s insights on the broader trends in FDI, Malaysia’s economic future, and what policies could further enhance the country’s attractiveness for foreign businesses.