Global - Technology - Review

The island of Singapore is separated from Indonesia by the narrow channel of the Singapore Strait, and by the even narrower channel of the Johore Strait from Malaysia. Originally a British trading post established by Sir Stamford Raffles, Singapore is now one of the busiest trading centres in the world, and only Monaco has a greater population density. The climate is tropical. Most of the country is urban, though there are small patches of the original rainforest remaining. Many multi-national companies maintain a presence in Singapore; indeed over 40% of the population consists of expatriates. Despite its small size, Singapore is a popular destination for tourists. There are two new casino resorts; the Singapore Sun Festival takes place in November, celebrating music, film and wine, while the Singapore Food Festival, showcasing the diverse local cuisine, is held in July. Medical tourism is a growing sector. The Singapore Botanic Gardens includes the National Orchid Garden, containing over a thousand species. The colonial-style Raffles Hotel is the home of the Singapore Sling cocktail. The culture reflects Singapore’s ethnic diversity and increasing globalization, and influences include Chinese, Malay, Indian and European. There is an excellent transport infrastructure of expressways and metro system.