Singapore which country belong

The city quickly grew as an entrepot trade hub, attracting immigrants from China, India, the Malay Archipelago and beyond. In , Raffles implemented the Raffles Town Plan, also known as the Jackson Plan, to address the issue of growing disorderliness in the colony.

Ethnic residential areas were segregated into four areas. The European Town had residents made up of European traders, Eurasians and rich Asians, while the ethnic Chinese were located in present-day Chinatown and south-east of the Singapore River. Singapore continued to develop as a trading post, with the establishment of several key banks, commercial associations and Chambers of Commerce.

In , a causeway opened linking the northern part of Singapore to Johor Bahru. He also created many Palladian-style houses. The invaders arrived from the north, confounding the British military commanders who had expected an attack by sea from the south. It was the largest surrender of British-led forces in history. When the Japanese surrendered in , the island was handed over to the British Military Administration, which remained in power until the dissolution of the Straits Settlement comprising Penang, Melaka and Singapore.

In , about 6. Singapore promotes itself as a "dream destination," offering excellent service, a multicultural environment, local hospitality, exotic festivals, and tax-free shopping. To boost its competitiveness it has also signed visa-free agreements with most countries in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

According to the national authorities, in Singapore had hotels with total room capacity of 32, In the s, Singapore reinvented itself as Asia's convention city. In , the capital hosted 4, international and regional conventions with , foreign participants. According to the Union des Associations Internationales, Singapore ranks seventh among the world's major convention cities.

The financial and business services sector is one of the most important sectors to the Singapore economy and provides employment for , people. Finance rests on the traditional foundations of the banking system, investments, insurance, and foreign exchange. According to the IMF, Singapore is the world's fourth-largest global exchange center.

Although the Asian financial crisis affected the financial sector, there were no major bank collapses or bankruptcies. In , the STI experienced some recovery due to an upturn in the manufacturing sector. The MAS reinforced its strict policy against internationalizing the Singapore dollar by limiting overseas lending and borrowing by non-residents. This policy restricts use of the currency outside the country for activities unrelated to the domestic economic development. However, economic recovery has improved the Singapore government's fiscal position, and it intends to deregulate and gradually liberalize the financial sector.

The business services sector including property services, accountancy, and information technology , the fourth-most important economic sector in , experienced difficult times in the late s. During this period, economic recession and declining investments in neighboring countries led to less demand for financial and business services and brought a sharp decline in spending in the property market.

Singapore's well-developed retail sector provides excellent service to the local population and to foreign tourists. Large, state-of-the-art supermarkets are complemented by thousands of small retail shops where tourists and local consumers can buy different products.

Singapore has long been recognized as a major tourist shopping destination offering, among other things, the latest electronic products free of tax. In , there were , people employed in the wholesale and retail trades. After the decline of and this sector recovered, with the value of retail sales up by Economist Intelligence Unit. Country Profile: Singapore. London: Economist Intelligence Unit, Country Report: Singapore.

London: Economist Intelligent Unit, January Eliot, Joshua, and Jane Bickersteth. Singapore Handbook. NTCPublishing Group, Kuan Yew, Lee. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Accessed October Peebles, Gavin, and Peter Wilson. The Singapore Economy. NewYork: Edward Elgar, Singapore Exchange. AccessedOctober Singapore Government Web Site.

Singapore: Selected Issues. Central Intelligence Agency. World Factbook Accessed September In reality, Singapore isn't just one island but several, as the territory consists of one primary island and at least 62 smaller islets. This unique destination can be confusing for first-time visitors, but don't let that stop you from adding Singapore to your Southeast Asia itinerary.

Singapore is located in Southeast Asia around 85 miles kilometers north of the equator, south of Peninsular Malaysia, and east of West Sumatra Indonesia —just across the Strait of Malacca. The big island of Borneo lies to the east of Singapore. Ironically, the nearest island neighbors of hyper-developed Singapore are Sumatra and Borneo, two of the world's wildest islands. They are the only places on earth to find wild orangutans and Indigenous people still carve a life out in the rainforests.

Meanwhile, just a short distance away in Singapore, you'll find luxury cars on the roads and high-rise buildings. Singapore may feel remote, but it's easily connected to several nearby major airports.

Singapore is a highly developed nation in Southeast Asia with one of the world's strongest economies. An estimated one of every six households in Singapore has at least a million dollars in disposable wealth, excluding property. On top of that, real estate in Singapore is considered among the most expensive in the world.

With a land area of around square miles, Singapore is slightly smaller than the city of Lexington, Kentucky. But unlike Lexington, nearly 6 million residents are squeezed into the tiny nation. Despite its size, Singapore boasts one of the highest per-capita GDPs in the world.

The nation receives high-ranking marks for education, technology, health care, and quality of life. But along with a wealth of prosperity, a noticeable wealth divide exists Singapore doesn't have a minimum wage. Taxes are relatively high and crime is low. Transparency International ranks Singapore as one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Other countries in the region rank much lower. Singapore ranks third in the world for highest life expectancy.

The United States, for comparison, comes in at 36th per the United Nations. Although Singapore's epic population density and reputation for cleanliness conjure images of some futuristic metropolis made only of concrete and steel, think again. The National Parks Board is achieving its lofty goal of turning Singapore into a "city in a garden, " so tropical greenery abounds. But Singapore isn't a dreamy utopia for everyone. Some laws are considered draconian by human rights organizations.

The government is frequently called out for censorship and limiting freedom of speech. Technically, homosexuality is illegal in Singapore. With a mandatory death sentence, the drug laws are considered the toughest in the world. Singapore may be a tiny country, but there is no shortage of things to do to keep busy. This isn't just your standard big city, and it truly is one of the most unique places to visit in Southeast Asia and the world.

There are attractions that appeal to all tastes and all budgets, so you don't need to be a part of the local elite to have a good time. The most common way to enter Singapore—and the easiest—is by flying.

However, many backpackers traveling through Southeast Asia opt to forgo the plane and travel overland via Malaysia instead. The majority of travelers do not need a visa to enter Singapore and are free to stay for up to 90 days for tourism purposes.