The Economic Development Board (EDB) was set up in August 1961 to create jobs for Singaporeans through industrialisation. One of its key jobs was to attract industrialists from around the world to invest and open factories in the country. As see in its first logo, the initials of the agency's were rendered in graphic form to represent a factory with two smokestacks.

This logo was replaced in 1981 to mark the 20th anniversary of EDB as it shifted towards a new phase of seeking out higher value investments from around the world.