SINGAPORE
by Leah Walker
Its People
18% may be added to its
of business. It exists as
Malay, Mandarin Chinese
Today, Singapore is an
land base by 2030. Even so,
a banking, finance, and
and Tamil are also official
integral, prosperous part of
space is tight. Most of its
high tech electronics and
languages. There is a local
Asia known as the Pacific
population live in high rise
manufacturing center.
colloquial dialect called
Rim. This island state has
condominium-type apartments.
Singapore is considered
Singlish, but it seems to
slightly over 5.3 million
However, these are modern,
one of the world’s greatest
contain many elements
population (including about
functional dwellings.
commercial hubs, the fourth
of American English. All
largest financial center and
ethnic groups seem to work
together harmoniously.
3.3 million citizens), including
Singapore Island is by
about two million permanent
far the largest island in the
one of the five busiest ports.
residents or foreign workers..
chain, joined by over 60 much
Its environment is considered
Its ethnic composition
smaller islands and islets.
extremely competitive
there is considerable
is about 75% Chinese
On its north side, the Straits
and one of the easiest in
integration of these groups,
ethnicity, 15% Malaysian,
of Johor separate Singapore
which to do business.
there are sections in
and 8% Indian. As many as
from Malaysia, part of the
11 million transient workers
main Asia continent, and on
is very well educated,
groups seem to congregate
visit Singapore annually.
the south, Singapore Strait
enjoying the third highest
to some degree of residency,
separates it from Indonesia’s
per capita income in the
dining and shopping. There is
far western Riau Islands.
world. English is the first
a Chinatown, of course, but
language of administration
also sections more dominated
and communication, although
by Malay and Indians dialects.
A considerable portion of its
land, around 20%, has been
reclaimed from the ocean
Primarily, the business of
since the 1960s. Another
Singapore is a wide gamut
17
Singapore’s population
Even though, in business,
Singapore where different
APRIL 2014 • LUXE BEAT MAGAZINE