Political parties and leaders:
People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; Singapore
Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong]; Singapore Democratic
Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Workers' Party or WP [Sylvia LIM Swee
Lian]
note: SDA includes National Solidarity Party or NSP, Singapore
Justice Party or SJP, Singapore National Malay Organization or PKMS,
Singapore People's Party or SPP

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee
chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia L. HERBOLD
embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001
telephone: [65] 6476-9100
FAX: [65] 6476-9340

Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist
side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed
portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white
five-pointed stars arranged in a circle

Economy Singapore

Economy - overview:
Singapore, a highly-developed and successful free-market economy,
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 in 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 pharmaceu