Singapore - compact, efficient, wired to the world, your ideal technology partner In the heart of Asia, Singapore is developing as a knowledge economy, powered by ideas and innovation and fuelled by a spirit to succeed. Singapore's concentration of capital, technology, knowledge and infrastructure, make it an attractive and vibrant center for global business and technological activities. Singapore was ranked number 2 for overall competitiveness in the World Competitiveness Yearbook for both 2000 and 1999. The ranking by the Institute for Management Developments (IMD) is based on factors such as domestic economy, science and technology, internationalization, government, finance, infrastructure, management and people. What people are saying about Singapore Hong Kong-based Perc (Political & Economic Risk Agency), which reports on business and politics in Asia, rated Singapore as having the best high-tech infrastructure in Asia, and second in Asia, in its willingness to embrace new technology. "Singapore is the quintessential entrepot economy, serving as a key financial center, a major trading center, the hub of regional activities for many multinationals and a manufacturing exporter in its own right" - The World Economic Forum Newsweek Magazine rated Singapore a viable Silicon Valley “wanabe” and ranked the island among the world's top 10 "hot new tech cities" -- places to find new jobs, new wealth, and for the sheer fun of the information age. Strengths listed: tax incentives, well-educated workforce and relentless efficiency. "The KBE initiative is to build Singapore into a thriving home for industries that are driven by the creation and application of knowledge. To compete on the world stage, we aim to nurture innovation in key high-tech, high-growth sectors, including electronics, engineering, chemicals, life sciences, logistics and communications and media In society at large, we want to broaden and deepen Singapore's embrace of the IT culture......... In industry, we aim to promote entrepreneurship and the new technologies, using the US$1 billion Technopreneurship Investment Fund to promote new startups." Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, The World Economic Forum East Asia Economic Summit 2000 Singapore named Intelligent City of Year The World Teleport Association has awarded Singapore the first-ever "Intelligent City of the Year" award. This award recognizes a city that views bandwidth as essential to growth of economies and public welfare by ensuring that people have access to advanced information and communications services. Science & Technology 2005 : Powering the New Economy The government has committed S$7 billion on the third national Science & Technology - S&T 2005. This plan will identify and build world-class science and technology capabilities in niche areas and to strengthen and seed growth sectors which are globally competitive. Visit the National Science and Technology Board website for details at http://www.nstb.gov.sg