Area: 646.1 km2
Population: 3.0 million (mid-year, 1995)
Population Growth: 2.4% (mid-year, 1995)
Capital: Singapore (City State)
System of Government: Parliamentary Democracy
Head of State: President Ong Teng Cheong
Prime Minister: Goh Chok Tong
Key Government Ministers: Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime
Minister; Richard Hu, Minister of Finance, National Development and
Chair of the Monetary Authority of Singapore; Shunmugan Jayakumar,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Law; Yeo Cheow Tong, Minister of
Trade and Industry
Languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil. English is the
dominant language of business and education.
Literacy Rate: 88%
Ethnic Background: 77.5% of Chinese extraction, 14.2 % Malay,
7.1% from the Indian sub-continent. (mid year, 1994)
Religion: 52% of the population is either Buddhist or Daoist,
16% is Muslim, 12% is Christian and 4% is Hindu. The remaining
population either holds no religious affiliation or subscribes to
minority religions including Sikhism and Judaism.
Currency: Singapore Dollar = 100 Cents
C$ 1.00 = S$ 1.03 (average, week ending September 27, 1996)
For more information on Singapore, visit these websites:
- Shake hands when you first meet a business associate and exchange business cards.
- The head is the most important part of the body. Do not touch anybody's head or hair. Remember, no P.D.of A!!
- It is important to show a lot of respect for the elders. Avoid crossing your legs or smoking in front of them. If they say it is okay, by all means, feel free!
- Don't use your left hand for passing things or for eating (all you left-handed people, have fun!)
- Do not litter! There is a very strict fine for it. Keeping their city clean is important to people in Singapore. Smoking and chewing gum are not the best things to do in public either!
- Make appointments and be on time.
- Be friendly and be prepared for long (and sometimes many) meetings. All you impatient people, relax a little bit!
- Take off those shoes when going into someone's home. A present is always an added bonus!
Some of this information was taken from the Information Series published by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. It is available in print format.
asie@tgmag.ca