First, we have a government which has the capacity to think long term and implement tough policies to resolve problems and transform the economy. The government is not bogged down by disruptive and unproductive domestic political pit fights. Our basic economic strategy is right; our implementation good. We are moving up the value chain to more technology- and knowledge-intensive manufacturing. We are growing our services sector in areas like tourism, healthcare, education, banking and insurance. We are pumping money and talent into R & D. We have enlarged our economic space through FTAs (Free Trade Agreements) and moved into new areas like the Middle East. Foreign Minister George Yeo has just visited Libya and Yemen, the first Singapore Minister to do so. At the right time, I will go there too to strengthen our relations. Minister Mentor is himself engaging Russia and Kazakhstan to open up business opportunities. And if there are opportunities in North Korea, we will go there too. I dare say that our Ministers are not just good at forging relations but also enterprising like businessmen. Second, we have intelligent, hard-working and adaptable people. They know the world has changed and is constantly changing. They know they must run ahead of the pack in order not to be eaten by  BIS Review 55/2007  1  the proverbial lion. Some Singaporeans grumble and complain about the government and its tough policies but basically, they are nagging the government to listen to them more. Singaporeans are pragmatic and disciplined.
But in typical Singapore fashion, we kept our cool to battle the crises and, at the same time, strategise to meet the larger challenges posed by globalisation. We formed the Economic Review Committee (ERC). The ERC came up with a comprehensive strategy to restructure, upgrade and transform our economy. The government accepted most of the ERC’s recommendations. We have since cut corporate and personal income taxes, reduced business costs, made wages more flexible, restructured the manufacturing sector, invested more in R & D (Research and Development) and revamped our education system. Our economy is now stronger and more broad-based than ever before. In 2006, our GDP was $ billion, 55% bigger than in 1998. Annual growth rate over the past 3 years averaged 8%, double the figure for the period between 1997 and 2002. This year, jobs are chasing after people. Two weeks ago, I attended the Gala Dinner for Merrill Lynch’s inaugural “Pan Asia Rising Stars Conference”. Several foreign bankers and business executives I met – some had not visited Singapore for many years and a few were here for the first time – told me that they were surprised and excited by the “buzz” in Singapore. It is not just the business buzz of the financial industry, the Integrated Resorts, the sizzling property market, and so on. It is also the glitz of our nightlife and our arts, culture and restaurant scene. How have we managed this quick and dramatic rebound?