Amazon recently announced that it has invested more than S$2 billion across its retail and cloud businesses in Singapore in 2023. This includes both capital expenditure such as improvements to existing infrastructures, including fulfilment centres, delivery stations, and data centres, and operating expenditure towards technology, safety, expansion of programmes for customers, delivery partners, small and medium businesses and employee compensation.
The company’s investment in Singapore supported more than 4,000 indirect jobs in areas like construction, logistics, and other professional services according to third-party consultancy firm Keystone Strategy. In addition, according to a survey conducted by Amazon, Singapore businesses selling on Amazon have created more than 6,000 jobs to support their Amazon-related business activities. In total, Amazon supported more than 10,000 indirect jobs in Singapore in 2023 alone.
Amazon’s local investment reflects the company’s continued commitment to creating solutions and services that delight Singapore customers and contribute to the growth of Singapore businesses. “Since the start of our operations in Singapore in 2010 and the launch of Amazon.sg in 2019, we’ve been able to invest and grow our presence in the country with the support of our customers and selling partners,” said Peter Li, director, China & Singapore, International Store, Amazon.
“We’re humbled to see our investments unlock growth opportunities for businesses in Singapore and are proud to continue to support Singapore’s economy and digitisation,” he added.
Since the launch of Amazon Prime Now in 2017 (now renamed Amazon Fresh) and Amazon.sg in 2019, Amazon has continued to invest in its operations to offer a faster and more convenient shopping experience for Singapore customers. Amazon’s investments have enabled the company to avail same-day and next-day delivery for eligible products to customers in Singapore. In addition, Amazon Prime membership in Singapore offers unlimited access to award-winning movies and TV episodes with Prime Video, video game benefits with Prime Gaming, access to Prime Day and Prime Big Deals Days, free 2-hour scheduled delivery on groceries with Amazon Fresh, free one-day domestic delivery for eligible items as well as free international delivery with no minimum spending on eligible items.
Thousands of Singapore-based businesses – many of which are small and medium-sized enterprises – sell their products in the Amazon store. Through Amazon Global Selling, Singapore selling partners can export their products to customers around the world on Amazon. Amazon continuously invests in tools, services and programs to improve its selling partners’ experience and help them grow their businesses with Amazon.
This includes tools leveraging generative artificial intelligence such as the option for selling partners to provide a URL to their website to easily create high-quality product detail pages on Amazon, freeing up valuable time for other business priorities. In 2023, Amazon launched the “Singapore Cross-border Brand Launchpad” developed together with Enterprise Singapore and the Singapore Business Federation to help over 100 local Singapore micro, small and medium enterprises to launch and scale their brands and access export opportunities in the United States by 2025.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been supporting Singapore’s digital transformation ambition by helping Singapore businesses modernise IT and innovate securely at pace since it started operations in Singapore in 2010. Today, thousands of active Singapore customers, such as Grab, Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore, Singlife, and Synapxe, use the AWS Asia Pacific (Singapore) Region to digitally transform. With over 25 years of experience in artificial intelligence (AI), AWS is working with Singaporean organisations to develop innovative, industry-first solutions powered by AI and generative AI. Recently, AWS launched its AI flagship programme, AWS AI Spring, a multifaceted collaboration with the Singapore Government, public sector organisations, and enterprises to help accelerate the adoption of AI and generative AI in Singapore.
Amazon strives to be Earth’s Best Employer by offering career opportunities and mobility programs to employees and prioritizing creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming workplace for all employees. In 2023, Amazon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SG Enable, Singapore’s focal agency for disability and inclusion, to hire persons with disabilities and help create equal opportunities for them at Amazon’s operations facilities in Singapore.
