City information for Singapore

Singapore is a key Asian port at the tip of Malaysia.    It has grown to become one of the busiest shipping ports in the world and a key to commerce in the Asian sphere of influence.  Its GDP is equivalent to that of many major EU countries and its position as a key world economic center is undisputed.  

photo credit for Singapore Skyline: photobucket user Sovikc

City Location

The country that the city of Singapore is located in, is known as the Rebublic of  Singapore, and is generally referred to as simply, of course, Singapore.   

Functionally the region is a giant city and is almost completely urbanized although technically the region encompasses a large number of small islands, several which have been integrated into the city through land reclamation projects as the nation attempts to expand its borders and maximize land availability.  Due to this situation, real estate is a primary commodity and the country has adopted a dense urbanization strategy similar to that of Japan to maximize usable land areas.  

Despite the desire to gain more land, the country has shown restraint in regards to deforestation.   About a quarter of the surface area remains dedicated to national land preserves.

The success of the country is driven by the economic engine of the city of Singapore.   First attaining independence in June of 1965, this country has developed into a world class port and good shipping center as well as demonstrating advanced  technological and economic strengths.  

 Latitude and Longitude of Singapore

 1 17 N

 103 51 E

 Economy of Singapore

Singapore is known both for its strategic trade economy, which has been successful operating on free market principles and a relatively low level of corruption by officials.    This combined, with their strategic position on the straits of Malaysia have made them an attractive trading partner as well as creating a strong environment for international businesses to flourish in.  

photo credit for singapore skyscraper view: pentalaven

Primary exports

Trade Information

The export trade drives the Singaporean rise to global wealth.   Home to a number of advanced industries, the city is a leader in advanced technologies such as: information technology, pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics and petrochemical technologies.  Singapore is also noted for its strong banking and financial services sector, which boasts the fourth most active stock exchange in the world.   The country has negotiated trade agreements with 24 countries including the major players in the Asian markets as well as the United States.
    

Port of Singapore

The shipping industry in the port of Singapore, Singapore is immense.  Second only to the giant Chinese city of Shanghai in terms of cargo tonnage, the city is one of the most important marine centers in the world.   Handling over a billion gross tons of container traffic per year, the port has put the Singapore into the business of international trade in a big way.   

Standards of Living

The standard of living is high in Singapore, with a median income that is equivalent to about $50,000 usd.   The unemployment rate is remarkably low and a sign of an advanced and well adjusted member of the global economy.  

Internet use

With 3.7 internet users, the internet saturation and technological proficiency is high.   There are roughly 4.5 million people in the country giving an 82% rate of adoption.   Considering a quarter of the population is over 65 or under 14 years of age, the technological fluency is extremely high.  

Travel

As a former British colony, travelers from the United States will find that it is easy to communicate with the locals.  The common language tends to be English, although the country recognizes four official languages.   Students are well educated and tend to be multi-lingual and well prepared for life in a high technology trade center.

Due to the level of urbanization, costs will however tend to be fairly high for services and lodging.   A natural destination for ocean based traffic, there are a number of international cruise lines which make calls in Singapore.  

City Aviation

The city is a major aviation center, for many of the same reasons that it has success as a shipping center.   Positioned perfectly to act as a go-between for Australia, China, India and Africa, it is centrally located to a wide number of destinations.   

Flights depart regularly, with an average of about one departure every 2-3 minutes around the clock.   Traffic is literally coming and going constantly.

Air routes connect a staggering 185 cities worldwide and almost every major international carrier is among the 85 that have slots at Changi.   The facilities are top notch and it is acknowledged that Changi Airport is consistently one of the highest rated airports in the world.  The reputation for guest service is supreme and they have been awarded numerous industry awards for professionalism and service on an international level.   In addition to handling over 35 million passengers a year it is also one of the top freight shipping airports.

What is Singapore Like?

Ultimately Singapore represents a unique cultural experience as well as acting as a spotlight on Asian trade relations.  The streets are remarkably clean and the crime rates are low, in a large part due to extremely high employment ratios.   The city represents the merging influence of both Eastern and Western societies and is a fascinating look into the world of high technology and commerce on the Asian rim. 

If you are interested in Asia but don't want to step too far out of your cultural comfort zone or get too far from the city life and the interconnection that comes with it,  then Singapore may be an ideal destination for you.