FarangFarang Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 March 13 (Bloomberg) -- Singapore is Asia's most competitive city in attracting businesses, efficiency and promoting a clean environment, according to an Economist Intelligence Unit report commissioned by Citigroup Inc. The island, ranked by the World Bank as the easiest place to do business, was the world's third-most competitive city after New York and London among 120, according to the report. Singapore ranked the highest in financial maturity and physical capital, beating Hong Kong, which was ranked fourth overall, the report showed. "Our strong attributes of trust, knowledge, connectivity and livability have underpinned our ability to attract investments, business, talent and ideas," Leo Yip, chairman of Singapore Economic Development Board, said today in a statement. "It is also becoming a strategic location for Asian enterprises to build capability to grow international markets." Singapore has cut taxes in recent years to spur investment, prompting companies to hire hundreds of thousands of people from overseas. Foreigners and permanent residents make up more than a third of the nation's 5.2 million population. The city has brought in about 1 million people since the beginning of 2005 as the government allowed more immigration to make up for a declining birth rate. The city state forecasts its economy will expand 1 percent to 3 percent this year after growing 4.9 percent in 2011. The current gross domestic product forecast for Singapore in 2012 doesn't factor in "downside risks emanating from abroad," the trade ministry said on Feb. 16. 'Neck to Neck' While Singapore and Hong Kong were "neck to neck" in most of the categories, Singapore outperformed in environmental governance and global appeal, said Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh, senior editor at Economist Intelligence Unit. Asia ranked the highest in terms of economic strength, the most weighted category in the ranking, making up 15 cities in the top 20, the report said. Of these, 12 cities are in China, the report showed. "Asia's economic rise is clearly reflected in the economic strength of its cities," Stephen Bird, chief executive officer of Citigroup's Asia-Pacific region. "Cities are engines of global growth that are transforming the landscape of investment, talent and business." The 120 cities account for about 29 percent of the global economy with a combined GDP of $20.2 trillion. The report looked at such categories as economic growth, social aspects, infrastructure and talent to identify areas of opportunities, Michael Zink, head of Citigroup for the Southeast Asian region, said today in Singapore. Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/03/13/bloomberg_articlesM0STY06S972A01-M0T7S.DTL#ixzz1p7LUalFT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin_2 Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 I've been researching the hell out of Singapore, and it looks like an attractive option since they have a good education system. However, it's pretty expensive and expat contracts seem hard to come by. Boston is pretty awesome, but Sing seems like a great compromise... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarangFarang Posted July 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 I've been researching the hell out of Singapore, and it looks like an attractive option since they have a good education system. However, it's pretty expensive and expat contracts seem hard to come by. Boston is pretty awesome, but Sing seems like a great compromise... Yeah, I read something (don't remember where) that said that the average expat package was north of $200K USD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin_2 Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Yeah, I read something (don't remember where) that said that the average expat package was north of $200K USD. I've been reading averages around 120k, but companies will typically pay for school, insurance, flights, etc. Now I just have to find one of those expat packages...I checked everywhere, even under my bed. I'll keep trying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stramash Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 I've been reading averages around 120k, but companies will typically pay for school, insurance, flights, etc. Now I just have to find one of those expat packages...I checked everywhere, even under my bed. I'll keep trying. My friend and her husband moved last year. His contract was just over £100K with benefits. So those figures seem about right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarangFarang Posted July 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 I've been reading averages around 120k, but companies will typically pay for school, insurance, flights, etc. Now I just have to find one of those expat packages...I checked everywhere, even under my bed. I'll keep trying. Yeah $120K salary plus benefits is probably around 200K in total. Of course, that sounds nice right up until you go down and buy a $10 bowl of noodles from the local street vendor :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarangFarang Posted July 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Also, keep in mind the cost of living. Just googled an international cost of living calculator which indicates: [ATTACH=CONFIG]119244[/ATTACH] I compared Los Angeles to Singapore. The red numbers are where LA is cheaper. So food and entertainment are 4% - 5% cheaper but housing, clothes, and transportation cost about 36% - 37% more. And here's the comparison between Bangkok and Singapore. Again, green is where Bangkok is cheaper. [ATTACH=CONFIG]119245[/ATTACH] So overall, the cost of living in Singapore is 55% more than the COL in Bangkok. BTW, I ran the above at: http://www.expatistan.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddy Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 (edited) So you feel the grip of SEA gently tugging on your balls again eh? Have you looked at Kong Kong? They have a sold economic and education infrastructure there and they used to be under British rule so they no doubt speak "proper" English. Actually, that might not suit you. ;-) Edited July 18, 2012 by Teddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin_2 Posted July 19, 2012 Report Share Posted July 19, 2012 So you feel the grip of SEA gently tugging on your balls again eh?Have you looked at Kong Kong? They have a sold economic and education infrastructure there and they used to be under British rule so they no doubt speak "proper" English. Actually, that might not suit you. ;-) I do feel the tug for sure, though getting a fat expat package to Singapore isn't probable, lol. That would be the only way I'd move back in that direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin_2 Posted July 19, 2012 Report Share Posted July 19, 2012 I'm also looking around for trust funds. Been searching everywhere, but can't seem to find one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin_2 Posted July 19, 2012 Report Share Posted July 19, 2012 The ad at the top for me right now is for Vistaprint. I just read that they are expanding into Singapore. I don't think they would do well without me...or FotoBook! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarangFarang Posted July 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2012 The ad at the top for me right now is for Vistaprint. I just read that they are expanding into Singapore. I don't think they would do well without me...or FotoBook! I'm sure they'll read this post and call you. Wait by the phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin_2 Posted July 20, 2012 Report Share Posted July 20, 2012 I'm sure they'll read this post and call you. Wait by the phone. Im a bit more proactive than that. I'm also checking email periodically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stramash Posted July 20, 2012 Report Share Posted July 20, 2012 Im a bit more proactive than that. I'm also checking email periodically. I'm sure I saw a pigeon fly past with a message for you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin_2 Posted July 20, 2012 Report Share Posted July 20, 2012 I'm sure I saw a pigeon fly past with a message for you... I just moved house two months ago. If I don't get that job offer, I'm sure it's because of the address change. PIGEON POOP! Wait, shouldn't that be "PIGEOUN POOP?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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