Throughout my time in Singapore, I learned a lot about how business is conducted abroad. Being immersed in Singaporean culture gave me a better understanding of how businesses developed uniquely in Singapore compared to other Asian countries. While in the Central Business District, it is evident how important Singapore is as an Asian business hub. The central location of Singapore and its role as a port city have made it an attractive place for over 37,000 companies to open international headquarters. Companies headquartered in Singapore have larger access to countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Additionally, the culturally diverse characteristics of Singapore aided in developing it into the business hub that it is. After experiencing multiple company visits, it was clear that one of the main strengths of these companies was their people. Many businesses discussed how they can attract a more diverse pool of talent due to their location in Singapore. They further explained that a more diverse workforce allows them to develop better ideas for future operations.
My initial impression of Singapore’s lacking historical culture was partially correct and partially incorrect. I still agree with my initial impression that Singapore lacks historical culture when you are walking around the Central Business District, which has been transformed for tourism. However, outside of the CBD, in areas like Little India, Chinatown, and Arab St., historical culture has been preserved more. All of these areas still have elements of shophouses and small trade stores that are reminiscent of their native culture. Additionally, I liked how Singapore emphasizes each prominent culture and ensures that they are represented equally. One of our tour guides mentioned how each religion gets an equal number of nationally recognized holidays to guarantee that all cultures are represented equally. This is a unique way of preserving the multicultural qualities of Singapore compared to the United States, which is multicultural but favors Christian holidays when accounting for nationally recognized days.
