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Singapore ... Blue Water Trade Turns into Gold

Singapore has been called an economic miracle because of how much it has achieved in a short span of time, and in spite of its lack of natural resources.

In the post-independence 1960s, all that the island possessed was a strategic entrepot location, a hardworking population and visionary leadership. It has since built up its foreign reserves that total S$251,452.1 million (Monetary Authority of Singapore, May 2009), and generated a money supply of S$84,579.2 million. Its total GDP in 2008 was S$244 billion, contributed mainly by the services sector.

Singapore’s core industries lie in electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, life sciences, and entrepot trade.

Its major trading partners are Malaysia, United States, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, People's Republic of China, Thailand, Republic of Korea, Federal Republic of Germany, Philippines, Europe and Indonesia.
Singapore’s pro-enterprise environment makes it one of the easiest countries to set up a business in, while property, business and income tax rates remain competitively low.
Singapore’s free-market economy and political stability, together with a modern infrastructure, business transparency and favourable tax conditions, make it attractive to both investors as well as international companies wanting to set up a regional base in Asia.

Source: Enterprise One, Singapore Department of Statistics, The World Factbook

Regarding winning olympic medals... sippy cups are frowned upon, as are stuffed dachsunds. To really win the gold, you need some serious powers of concentration...

Henry is perhaps the sweetest kid I know. He's affectionate and funny and Loves his family and friends, but at various times over the past year, he's let me know that his favorite things are... sports cars, guns, money, jewels, monster trucks and gold. His older brother, Griffin is a naturalist and talks a lot about the environment and saving habitats... Margot loves her dolls and SHOES... Henry just has these interests at the ripe old age of 4 and a half. When we saw the olympic medal stand, we had to give it a try. And of course, Henry HAD to have the Gold medallion.

We posted this for the first time on January 31, 2007 and repost today in honor of the opening of the Olympic Games hosted by our dear neighboring city and ski resort to the north, Vancouver and Whistler, BC. We are thrilled to watch these games and remember fondly our many ski trips, vacations and honeymoon at Whistler!