Sitting on one of the world's most important shipping lanes, and with a reputation as a leading oil trading hub, Singapore is using its advantages to try to become one of the exchanges for the massive Saudi Aramco public offering.

Saudi Arabia expects Aramco to be valued at more than US$2 trillion. The state oil company plans to sell less than 5 percent of its eq through an initial public offering, at a predicted price of 100 billion US dollars. 

The Saudi energy minister says the company is considering listings on more than one exchange.

Around 80 percent of the top 30 oil and gas companies have offices in the city. And its location near the Malacca Strait makes it a waypoint between the Middle East's crude oil exporters and North Asia's leading industrial hubs.

Singapore's supporters argue its well-established trade links aren't the only positives in the negotiations with the Saudis. They point to the country's respected, and transparent, regulatory system. 

They insist these two factors give Singapore a fighting chance to grab a piece of the Aramco action.