SINGAPORE: Apple Inc will open its first retail store in Singapore, its first ever in South East Asia, in 2016.
Solar energy developer Sunseap Group said in a statement that it will provide the store with renewable energy by harnessing its systems set up across 800 of the city's rooftops from January next year.
Sunseaps strategic partnership with Apple represents a new frontier in Singapore's drive to utilize more cost-competitive renewable energy, said Goh Chee Kiong, a top official at the governments Economic Development Board.
Angela Ahrendts, an Apple corporate official, said in a statement that the company is thrilled to begin hiring a team that will open our first Apple Store in Singapore. With the deal, Apple will be the first company in Singapore to run exclusively on renewable energy. Apple's website lists 14 open positions for its Singapore retail store, ranging from store leaders, to business managers and technical assistants.
Apple currently sells its products in the physical stores of two authorized premium re-sellers, which have a total of 18 outlets across the city-state, and its online store.