Singapore is fast becoming a business city of choice. With excellent business infrastructure, political stability, and close economic ties with many of the world’s leading economies, there has never been better time than now for entrepreneurs to immigrate to and set up their business in Singapore.
Emphasis on economic performance has been a way of life for Singaporeans throughout the country’s history. Way before “foreign direct investment” became an economic buzzword, Singapore welcomed foreign companies into its fold.
Now, more than ever, Singapore is poised to be a launch pad for companies seeking growth in the fast-growing Asian and Pacific regions. Singapore enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a well established legal system.
Cooperation between government and private sector organizations is key to the effective protection of intellectual property and online security, both for individuals and businesses.
Singapore adopts an open immigration policy with a strong belief in human resource as the most valuable and important tool in the country’s economic growth. In recent months, the government has also spoken of the need to attract even more foreigners, whom the government calls “Foreign Talent”.
Singapore is poised to scale new heights in the 21st century. And with this exciting vision comes opportunities that are at once attractive, exciting and varied – whether you are looking for a career or settling into this culturally-diverse and cosmopolitan city.
Singapore has an excellent pro-business infrastructure which is favored by many business corporations worldwide. The Swiss-based World Economic Forum (WEF) has ranked Singapore the most competitive country in the world in its new global Competitiveness Index of 49 countries. The WEF Competitiveness Index measures the prospects for economic growth over the next five to ten years, based on factors like government, finance, infrastructure, technology, labors and management.
Singapore is one of the best-connected countries in the world, with excellent sea, air and telecommunication links. It has the busiest port in the world, serving as a focal point for more than 200 shipping lines to more than 600 ports worldwide.
A leading air hub, the Changi International Airport is no less busy, with 3,900 flights weekly to about 181 cities in 56 countries.
As the world’s third most wired nation and Asia’s most wired, Singapore is a “plug and play” nation. One where online banking & mobile lifestyle have become the norm. And close to 99% of the population, or almost every home, school and business has access to broadband Internet.
Singapore is ranked 3rd for the ease of doing business in Asia (World Bank report “Doing Business 2005″) and 1st for being the least bureaucratic place for doing business in Asia. Singapore leverages on its core competencies to provide the most conducive environment for companies to site their business management control towers. Many MNCs have benefited from Singapore’s highly-skilled workforce, favorable tax regime and test bedding opportunities, among other valuable resources and set up their headquarters here to manage their regional, and often global, operations.
Singapore was ranked by EIU in 2005 as the 11th best city to live in the world. Some of the world’s top universities have a presence in Singapore. It has a bustling arts scene. The world’s leading performers and arts companies now regard the city as a must-stop on their Asia Pacific tours.
Singapore is one of the most stable societies in Asia with a near zero crime rate. It ranks 3rd for the least corrupt country in the world. It has strong governance with a sophisticated business infrastructure and legal system.
In Singapore, East meets West. The city fuses modernity and tradition, with both celebrated in equal parts. Singapore’s multi-cultural society of over 4 million is reflected in its major ethnic groups: the Chinese (76%), Malays (13.7%), Indians (8.4%), and Eurasians and smaller minority groups (1.8%). Each of these communities celebrates its unique practices, religions and festivals.
Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism are the major religions.
Living conditions in Singapore are among the best in Asia, with state-of-the-art facilities for education, shopping, sports and recreation. The inflation rate was 0.5% in 2005.
