Singapore's New Destination: The First World

The tiny city-state of Singapore has a new dream-to get a
First World status in the next decade or so. And that goal comes straight from
the country's founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, who's current title is Minister
Mentor.

"In the first phase, we moved from Third World to the lower
half of the First World," the 82 year old statesman noted at a public
function in Singapore in February. "Now we can move into the upper half of
the First World. We can do this in the next 10-20 years."

What's the definition of the First World? According to
Wikipedia, countries that have more advanced economies than developing nations
but have not attained the level of those in the First World are grouped under
the term, Newly Industrialized Countries (NIC). They are China, India, Mexico,
South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and
the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCC). The GCC was created in 1981 and
comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates.

Is Singapore already a First World nation? United Press
International says Lee Kuan Yew, also known as Asia's Henry Kissinger, is the
oracle to whom others turn in a crisis. He has been active in every major Asian
event for 40 years: a staunch Cold War ally of the US and close friend ever
since; an unofficial mediator between China and Taiwan, UPI says. Mr Lee is a
man who rejected Western-type democracy in favor of authoritarian government to
build Singapore into the world's largest port (Hong Kong, in volume, is the
2nd largest) and an ultra modern city state of 4 mn, now ranked first (the US is
12th) in a Foreign Policy Magazine survey.

Mr Lee said he would like Singapore to incorporate the best from
First World cities like Paris, London and New York. Paris with its beautiful
human scale 19th century buildings is the most elegant city in the world, he
says. There is much life on the sidewalks of the boulevards, people sitting
around tables of cafes and restaurants enjoying their coffee or ice cream.

As for London, it's the most international city, bustling with
people from all over the world, and many serving the international financial
centre. "When I was there at the end of World War II, the only non-British
were people from their colonies and dominions," Mr Lee says. New York is
the business centre of the world. It has the UN HQ, a great city for culture and
the arts. Singapore needs to incorporate the best features from these cities in
a tropical version.

That's the soft side. Here are some hard numbers. As of now,
Singapore compares favorably with both Britain and France on a number of
factors. In terms of GDP per capita, Singapore's US$30,900 is on par with
France and a bit lower than Britain's US$31,400. In terms of real GDP growth,
Singapore clocked 7.4% last year, compared to 2.7% for Britain and 2.3% for
France.

In terms of cellphone users, Singapore has 4.4 mn (equal to its
resident population of 4.4 mn), versus Britain's 62 mn cellphone users (on a
base population of 61 mn) and France's 49.3 mn cellphone users (on a base
population of 63 mn residents), according to statistics collated by AMI
Partners. And finally, 70% of Singapore's resident population are Internet
users, compared to 48% in France and 62% in Britain.

By 2010, Singapore will have two integrated resorts. With
conventions and world class entertainment, the tourist inflow may rise from 9.7
mn in 2006 to 17 mn by 2015.

That dream, and that vision, will enable Singapore to stay
relevant as the other Asian economies surge ahead.

Raju Chellam

The writer, a former Dataquest editor, is currently vice
president (Asia-Pacific) with Access Markets International (AMI) Partners, based
in Singapore.

He can be reached at maildqindia@cybermedia.co.in