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Chinese phone maker to set up global headquarters in S’pore

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi announced yesterday that it would be setting up its global headquarters in Singapore.

Xiaomi Global VP Hugo Barra. Photo: Xiaomi

Xiaomi Global VP Hugo Barra. Photo: Xiaomi

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Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi announced yesterday that it would be setting up its global headquarters in Singapore.

“(Singapore is) a very international city, it has amazing talent and a supportive Government. It is also very central from a logistics perspective — you can go anywhere from here on a direct flight,” said Vice-President of Xiaomi Global Hugo Barra.

Xiaomi currently has a temporary office in Singapore and will be signing a lease for a 2,000 sq ft space, from which it will expand into South-east Asia before it gets a development team going here.

“Our initial focus is operational footprint. We’ll have the team here lead the expansion in South-east Asia,” said Mr Barra, adding that the Redmi would be launched in Malaysia in the second quarter.

Despite negativity surrounding products from Chinese firms, Mr Barra is confident Xiaomi will be able to convince Singaporeans that its products are well known not only for being cheap.

“I think this ‘China brand’ negativity is a bit of a myth,” he said. “I don’t think we’re going to worry that (Xiaomi becomes) a budget brand as its products are of such high quality.”

"I think (Xiaomi) is more of a too good to be true brand."

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