Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the
advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the
president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals
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 pharmaceuticals and medical
technology production - and will continue efforts to establish
Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$138.6 billion (2006 est.)