Temasek opens Paris office as it moves to access broader region

It also plans to invest up to 25b in Europe, Middle East and Africa over next five years

- Chin Soo Fang

PARIS Temasek on April 10 opened an office in Paris, its third in Europe, expanding its global footprint to 13 offices across nine countries.

The Singapore-headquartered investment company said the Paris office together with its existing offices in London and Brussels will improve access to investment and partnership opportunities, as well as the talent pool across both the European Union and the broader Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

A Temasek spokesperson told The Straits Times that the company plans to invest $20 billion to $25 billion in the EMEA region over the next five years.

Temasek had a net portfolio value of $382 billion as at March 31, 2023.

Since 2011, the company's exposure to the EMEA region has grown almost five times to $47 billion, or 12 per cent of its portfolio.

Speaking at a reception at art museum Le Petit Palais to mark the opening of the new office, Temasek chairman Lim Boon Heng recounted how Europe was still facing economic uncertainty coming out of the global financial crisis when Temasek opened its London office its first in Europe - 10 years ago.

There were financial crises affecting Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain.

"Even then, I said that Temasek saw a deeper purpose in providing a bridge between Europe and Asia, and partnering European companies, both inside and outside Europe," he said.

He added that Temasek's investment activities are aligned to four structural trends: digitisation, sustainable living, future of consumption and longer lifespans.

Guided by these trends, Temasek has invested in French companies such as digital health insurer Alan, e-commerce marketplace ManoMano and quantum computing firm Pasqal.