Singapore's Catch-22

Abstract

A friend of mine recently returned from a three-week tour of South-east Asia. Of all the places visited by this R&D director of a major U.S. multinational firm, one stood out—Singapore. is the model for the 21st century, gushed this observer, who also is a Ph.D. chemist. From infrastructure to cleanliness of streets to sheer beauty, Singapore had it all in this person's view. This is, in fact, a feeling shared by many who have visited Singapore. And, as C&ENs Pacific Rim correspondent Jean-Francois Tremblay writes (see page 10), there are reasons why the business community—including the chemical industry—has embraced Singapore with ardor. After electronics, the chemical industry is the country's second most important source of manufacturing output. In refreshing contrast to much of Southeast Asia, things work in Singapore, Tremblay notes. Unlike Vietnam and China, where policies change from day to day, the city-state offers predictability and user friendliness. The Singapore government, Trembla...