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Dynamic economy. Fast-track careers. Garden-city living environment. A society that rewards budding talent, fresh ideas, bold innovations and sheer hard work. A winning combination that is Singapore.

Today, it is much more than a popular port of call. It has transformed itself into a global city that regularly tops lists of the world's bests: the world's best airport, best airline and best workforce. Singapore, a largely English-speaking modern metropolis with living standards comparable to many developed countries, is an ideal place to work and live in.

The direction that this modern economy is headed is high-tech and high value-added industries. Career opportunities abound in information technology, research and development, in manufacturing, in finance and banking, in theatre, dance, and museum management, as well as in the increasingly sophisticated and growing media industry.

There's more. Singapore, because of its uniquely central location, is also the commercial hub of the region. Companies in Singapore are expanding into the emerging economies in the region and setting up shop in such countries as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Indochina as well as China . If you want to be in the thick of action and position yourself for the Pacific Century, Singapore is the place for you.

Imagine combining Singapore's business savvy with the rich resources of the vast Asian hinterland. Add to that the Singapore Government's free-enterprise, pro-business philosophy, its numerous incentives to attract foreign investments and to encourage businesses to tap into the region's booming economies, and you are looking at compelling, even overpowering reasons why multinational companies and people from all over the world continue to move their base to Singapore.

All in all, there's plenty in Singapore for you to explore, discover, learn and benefit from if you have the talent or skill to help shape the island's advance into the next millennium.

Working in Singapore

Singapore welcomes the skilled and talented. There are many career opportunities in a variety

of professions. If you are an engineer, your skills, whether they be in construction, manufacturing or the marine industry, are in demand. In Information Technology, there are many attractive opportunities for systems analysts, programmers and multimedia specialists. In Finance, accountants, dealers, and research analysts are much sought after.

Other industries that are expanding include healthcare, where specialised professionals are in great demand. The media industry, with such satellite and cable giants as MTV, HBO, ABN and Discovery setting up shop here, has tremendous opportunities for voice talents, show hosts and a whole range of media-related jobs. There is also the arts -- theatre, dance, music and museum -- both in performing and management.

You can avail yourself to numerous opportunities to learn something new all the time and gain exposure to the Asian way of doing things. Companies operating here are always on the lookout for ways to expand into the neighbouring Southeast Asian countries, or even further afield. Opportunities to travel, especially in the region, for projects or even short-term work, abound. Besides, Singapore is the perfect place for you to acquire some of the most widely spoken Asian languages, like Chinese, Malay, or Japanese, which could come in useful in your future career development.

It's true that in Singapore people work hard. They need to, in order to succeed in an increasingly competitive environment. But often, the rewards more than compensate for the hard work.

These rewards include bonuses, the vacation days, health and dental insurance which are year end standard employee benefits most companies offer. Other perks could include car and housing loans and incentive travel overseas.

There is also a retirement savings plan in the form of the Central Provident Fund or CPF contributions for Singapore citizens and permanent residents. These savings can be used to invest in shares, or children's education, or be used to augment your personal medical insurance. It has enabled Singapore to enjoy one of the highest rates of home ownership in the world. Because CPF savings can be used to buy property as well, 88% of Singaporeans own homes. Singapore also has one of the lowest personal income tax rates in the world, ranging from 2% to 28%, and the country's GDP per capita in 1997 was S$39,310 (US$22,399).

Working in Singapore promises to be an exciting journey and fruitful venture as this country, together with its Asia Pacific neighbours, moves into the next millennium.

Living in Singapore

Its winning features? A well-planned garden city, safe and peaceful neighbourhoods where you can walk freely late at night, and living standards that are among the highest in the world. Housing, healthcare, transport and the general living environment compare favourably with and in some cases, even surpass those of the more developed countries.

Your choice of housing ranges from luxurious bungalows with manicured gardens to premium private apartments in quiet residential districts, to easily affordable public housing with such amenities as public swimming pools, schools, libraries, shopping centres and supermarkets, all with easy access to public transport. Short-term accommodation is also readily available and a wide selection of apartments and landed properties can be rented. And if you are a Permanent Resident, a holder of an Employment Pass or a Skilled Work Permit and you have been in Singapore for less than two years, there is even a scheme to assist you in your accommodation needs. Under the Scheme for Housing Foreign Talents (SHiFT), a stock of public apartments is set aside specifically for foreigners working in Singapore. You may register online for SHiFT. Find out more about your housing options in Singapore and their costs.

Healthcare facilities here are state-of-the-art. Singapore has in fact become a medical hub for the region. Hospitals here employ up-to-date technology and the latest treatments available. There is also a comprehensive network of general practitioners and government clinics that provide highly affordable care and treatment for both Singaporeans and expatriates alike. The burden of paying medical bills is lightened considerably by public medical insurance schemes. One such scheme for Singaporeans and permanent residents, Medisave, apportions a certain amount from one's Central Provident Fund savings to be set aside for medical expenses.

Singapore has one of the best public transport systems in the world, with buses that service almost every corner of the island; and a swift, clean and safe subway network in the form of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system that serves the central business district, the main civic and shopping areas, and the housing estates in the suburbs. A new light rail system will complement both the MRT and the buses. For those who prefer to travel in comfort, there are taxis that you can flag down or book through phones, at rates that are among the lowest in the world.

Education in Singapore is not merely academic. We place strong emphasis on character development, creative thinking, independent learning, information and technology skills as well as moral and ethical instruction. In fact, the Ministry of Education has formulated a blueprint on National Education to develop through our children, national cohesion, the instinct for survival and confidence in the future.

Studying in Singapore

Singapore schools regularly produce outstanding students who measure up to international standards and excel in international academic competitions. In 1996, a random selection of Singapore teenagers who took part in a 45-country survey of mathematics and science, topped the findings, beating even their peers from Japan and the United States. The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, a 37-year body that does comparative studies on educational achievements, conducted that survey.

Singapore schools adopt a bilingual policy, where all students learn at least two languages, English and their mother tongue, which can be Chinese, Malay or Tamil. The Ministry of Education has also invested S$2 billion in an Information Technology plan that revolutionises learning in schools. Teachers can use computers to plan, teach and assess students, and students will have a wealth of information at the click of a mouse. There are also school and regional libraries which offer not just books and audio-visual materials but a host of multi-media facilities for students.

Singapore schools also pay close attention to the all-round development of students, encouraging

excellence in extra-curricular activities such as sports, drama, music and the fine arts. Boarding facilities are also available for foreign students in some schools. Please click here to find out more about student hostels and boarding schools and about Singapore’s education system.

Singapore's vigorous emphasis on education and scholarship has been rewarding, given the country's history of thriving in an open and competitive world. The country's two universities, National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technology University, have been cited in Asiaweek's listing of top 20 best universities in Asia. The National University of Singapore in particular was cited for its high standards of professionalism, efficiency and technical excellence.

There are also four polytechnics, Singapore Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic that offer diploma courses, and the Institute of Technical Education that specialises in skill training in various trades. In addition, there are international schools such as the United World College, the Singapore American School, the Canadian International School, the Australian International School and the Japanese School, which offer curricula similar to those of their home countries.

Singapore eventually hopes to be known not just for its top schools that produce all-rounded students but also for its universities, academic and research institutions, serving as the hotbeds of new ideas, innovations and inventions.