.gif) SINGAPORE
Uniquely Golf In The Uniquely City
 About Singapore
Road to prosperity
Singapore sits at one degree above the equator and is the largest of 63 islands. It is 42 km long and 23 km deep and the total landmass is 688 sq km. In the Chinese figures language, these are very good ones as 6 means the road and 8 the prosperity.
Singapore is among the 20 smallest countries in the world. The USA is about 15,000 times bigger. Apart from Monaco , Singapore is the most densely populated country in the world, with 6,430 people per square kilometre. 83% of the population lives in housing estates constructed by the state Housing Development Board, well-built and maintained with shops, schools, hawker, playgrounds, gardens.
Awards and ranks
Singapore is a developed nation . It has been rated as the most business-friendly economy in the world. With 11 refineries, it is the third largest producer of petroleum and petrochemical refining. Singapore is also the fourth largest foreign exchange trading centre in the world after London , New York City and Tokyo .
Since achieving independence in 1965, the GDP grew at 7 to 8% per annum, from around S$4000 to S$26,833 in 2005 (more than in the OECD).
It ranks 25th on the Human Development Index for standards of living. Primary education is compulsory and as such the literacy rate is 95%.
Industry and science
Singapore's economy is based on three main sources: port activities, tourism and manufacturing industry (electronics, refineries, chemicals, mechanical engineering and biomedical sciences). Dominant winds blowing from East, industries are settled on the west part of the island.
Singapore has a few research centres involved in international research programmes. More. In 2007, the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the National Research Foundation of Singapore will open a joint major new research centre the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART). It is the first centre of its kind outside of Cambridge (MA) and MIT's largest international research endeavour ever. It places Singapore on the top scientific world map.
Green but hazy
Focusing on waste management, clean air, water supply and ecology, the Singapore Green Plan 2012 was launched in 2002.
As a result of efforts to control traffic, natural greenery, regulations on industrial locations and emissions, and other environmental initiatives, Singapore has been able to control its pollution within WHO standards
In its reserves and parks, Singapore has counted 363 species of birds, 451 species of crabs and shrimps, 935 species of insects, 1006 species of fungi and 2697 species of plants. A second botanic garden is planed for the new Marina Bay development.
Singapore gets 40% of its water needs from Malaysia but plans to be self sufficient in 2061 when the contract arrives at term in 2061. It is a pharaohic project. The idea is to close Marina Bay to transform it in a big dam and replace the salted by rain water!
If Singapore worries about its own environment issues, it has no control over its neighbours, especially Indonesian forest fires hanging the island in a lingering haze.
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 Singapore = 688 km²
6 + 8 = road to prosperity
HDB buildings and parks
Helping the risk takers in the most business-friendly economy
NUS research centre
Marina Bay
Flamingos at Jurong Park
 - information
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