Access to Asia: Your Multicultural Guide to Building Trust, Inspiring Respect, and Creating Long-Lasting Business Relationships

Chapter 12Singapore

Introduction

As an article in The Economist proposed, if there was to be one ‘world capital,’ what better choice could there be than Singapore?¹ In light of how often this city-state appears at the top of various world rankings and best-of lists, it's easy to see why the writer made this choice. Singapore boasts the world's healthiest people, the lowest crime rate, the lowest level of drug abuse, and the shortest average time needed to become a millionaire. Populated by high achievers, Singapore is also number one in the world for math and science education. In a report that reviewed creative problem-solving competence among students in OECD countries, Singapore came out at the top. And for eight consecutive years, the World Bank has recognized Singapore as the world's easiest place to do business.²

Secular Confucian values of hard work, thrift, honesty, and integrity find their place within a state-of-the-art infrastructure that has made Singapore so attractive to foreign trade and investment.

As an independent republic, Singapore is barely 50 years old. The country is a rich ethnic mix of Chinese, Malay, and Indian cultures. When traveling to Singapore, then, you'd do well to take into consideration the cultural dynamics and background of the people there with whom you seek to develop a relationship. Review the information in this chapter, but then also ...