INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Singapore Office: Odetics Inc., the maker of automatic data storage systems for computers, has created a new Far East operation and opened a marketing office in Singapore.

The subsidiary, called Odetics Asia Pacific, gives the Anaheim company a larger overseas presence with its first Asian-based operation.

“Singapore itself provides a prime example of a communications market that is in need of products we manufacture,” said Frank Borst, director of global business development and the new managing director of Odetics Asia Pacific.

The company formed Odetics U.K. Ltd. in 1989 as a subsidiary to market its products in Great Britain, but that operation has since expanded into Central Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“It’s part of an overall globalization strategy,” Borst said about the Singapore unit. Already, the Asia Pacific subsidiary has made sales in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea.

Borst also said the timing is “perfect” for the new office because of the opening of Vietnam this year to U.S. trade. “We do particularly well in emerging markets where new communications channels are being established,” he said. “Vietnam definitely meets this criteria.”