Singapore is a regional hub for business, technology and tourism, and for many entrepreneurs, investors and corporate professionals, Asia’s Lion City is a top destination. Here are four reasons why people choose Singapore.
It’s the world’s second safest city
In August this year, Singapore was named the world’s second safest city, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit. The top cities cited are those which provide its residents quality healthcare and cybersecurity infrastructure, has “community-based police patrolling” and are resilient enough to recover from “shocks.” This is the third time that Singapore placed second in this report. The index ranked 60 cities across five continents based on digital, health, infrastructure and personal safety factors. Singapore topped the infrastructure and personal security categories.
It is the world’s most competitive economy
The annual Global Economic Competitiveness Report by the World Economic Forum announced Singapore as the world’s most competitive economy for 2019, overtaking the U.S. The city-state also ranked first in two pillars of the index—life expectancy and labour markets. The report noted that the country’s stable financial and macroeconomic system as well as public sector and infrastructure propelled it to the top of the list.
It is home to the world’s best airport
Singapore Changi Airport, in itself, is an attraction not to be missed. For the seventh consecutive year, it was named the world’s best airport by the Skytrax World Airport Awards, which are decided based on customer votes.
Changi Airport is renowned for its fully automated and DIY check-in, baggage tagging and boarding system aptly called FAST (Fast and Seamless Travel). It’s an entertainment, shopping and dining haven and a compelling reason enough to go to Singapore. Changi Airport has the world’s first Butterfly Garden, an Orchid Garden and Koi Pond, 24-hour cinemas, video game consoles, massage and shower areas, a rooftop swimming pool and dozens of duty-free outlets and dining spots, among other remarkable features. Last April, a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex inside the airport—called Jewel Changi Airport—was opened. It has the world’s tallest indoor waterfall in a forest setting.
It’s a world-class hub for many global firms
Singapore has a business-friendly digital and data infrastructure. It is a key figure in the ASEAN-Australia Digital Trade Frameworks Initiative and its own National Trade Platform is a great example of how businesses, banks, logistics firms, customs and other stakeholders can effectively work together in a transparent and open-sourced environment. Singapore also has many free trade agreements that open up global markets to local enterprises.
To attract global talent and help strengthen the country’s position in the competitive technology landscape, the Economic Development Board and Enterprise Singapore announced the launch of Tech@SG last July. It is a two-year programme that makes it easier for qualifying “high-potential” tech firms to bring in professionals via an Employment Pass (EP). EP is a work visa issued by Singapore to foreign employees, following fulfilment of certain qualifications. Tech@SG is targeted towards digital, medtech, fintech, biotech, agritech and cleantech industries who need global experts in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data science.