SINGAPORE - Credit card firm Visa is beefing up its office in Singapore as part of a worldwide expansion of its technology resources.

It is creating around 185 new technology research and development jobs here, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Many of those positions will be filled by converting contract workers to permanent staff to "maintain momentum around new, critical technology initiatives underway at the company", it said.

Mr Chris Clark, Visa's group executive for the Asia Pacific, said in the statement that Singapore was "fast establishing itself as the financial and high-tech hub for the region".

"We aim to tap into world-class innovation resources as we accelerate the shift to electronic payments and drive innovation in mobile and digital platforms," he said.

Visa said it would work with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to help recruit top technology talent.

Mr Kelvin Wong, EDB assistant managing director, noted that Visa focuses on mobile solutions, data analytics, and information security. It could tap on a strong base of research and development activities and technology infrastructure in Singapore, he said.

Visa's Singapore office expansion is part of its larger plan to hire around 2,000 more full-time technology workers globally.