The subject for this thesis was proposed by our professor Leo van Grunsven. We were enthusiastic about doing research in Asia. The research subject is the evolution of the electrical and electronics industry of Batam and is part of a larger research project about the evolution of the E&E industry in Southeast Asia and the role that multinational corporations play regarding industrial upgrading. The evolution of subsidiaries of multinational corporations and their relation with the local environment of the host region fits well with subjects covered during the bachelor Human Geography and Planning, but especially during the master Economic Geography.