Singapore is a small island nation with a large multicultural
population and a cosmopolitan heart. Singapore has no natural resources
or even farms, despite this the country is one of Asia's top economic
powers with one of its biggest industries being tourism.
Singapore was little more than a fishing village when it was acquired by
Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles in 1819 from the Sultan of Johore who
governed the neighbouring Sultanate of Johore (now part of Malaysia).
Raffles who was employed by the British East India Company saw the
island as an opportunity to set up a British trade port in the region
and from there on the island's population grew rapidly.
The Japanese renamed Singapore to Syonan-to (meaning Light of the South)
during World War 2 and occupied the country until 1945. The countries
economy struggled after the war but this was soon turned around by the
prime minister Lee Kuan Yew who held office from 1959 until 1990.
Becoming an independent nation in 1965 the country soon underwent huge
economical development.
Today Singapore is one of the most vibrant cities in the world, its
clean has very low unemployment and one of the lowest crime rates
around. The Singapore government is also doing all it can to attract
more and more tourists to the country. Recently a new theatre and
entertainment district was created at marina south with one of
Singapore's first two casinos planned to be built there too.
