Singapore :: Economy
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Agriculture rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs; fish, ornamental fish Industries electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, life sciences, entrepot trade Exports: machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, chemicals, mineral fuels Imports: machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs Currency: Singapore dollar (SGD) Exchange rates: Singapore dollars per US dollar - 1.5889 (2006) Overview: Singapore has a highly-developed and successful free-market economy. It enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP equal to that of the four largest West European countries. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in consumer electronics and information technology products. It was hard hit from 2001-03 by the global recession, by the slump in the technology sector, and by an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, which curbed tourism and consumer spending. Fiscal stimulus, low interest rates, a surge in exports, and internal flexibility led to vigorous growth in 2004-06 with real GDP growth averaging 7% annually. The government hopes to establish a new growth path that will be less vulnerable to the global demand cycle for information technology products - it has attracted major investments in pharmaceuticals and medical technology production - and will continue efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub. Source: World Factbook, updated August 2007
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