Smart Idea!

The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them on a smart tour to Singapore!

Come and see the world's "smartest city" and the most global economy. Join leading Winnipeg thinkers and leaders of change from business, government, media and education who will be on this smart tour to Singapore.

The island of Singapore is linked by 300,000 km of optical fibre and nearly every home, office and government agency is linked through a multi-media network. According to the The Economist, "when it comes to e-government, there is nothing to match Singapore."

It is important for Canadians to know more about Singapore. Canada and Singapore are currently discussing a bilateral free trade agreement. This agreement will result in new opportunities for Canadian business and research organizations in the agri-food, aerospace, defence, life sciences, construction and environment industries.

Singapore has only been a country for 35 years, but in this short time they have grown from a relatively poor and uneducated island to having one of highest per capita incomes and most knowledgeable workforces in the world. Whatever they take on in Singapore, they do well because of their commitment to change and innovation. They view productivity to be "a race to a never-ending finish line".

A smart tour to Singapore will provide Winnipeg business and community leaders a first-hand view of one of the world's smartest and most dynamic economies. The smart tour to Singapore will provide those attending with an opportunity to:

Connect with other business, political and community leaders on tour from Winnipeg and make new contacts in Singapore.

Learn from one of the world's most technologically advanced and dynamic global economies.

Share views with other leaders about what was learned and what lessons can be brought back to Winnipeg.

The future of Winnipeg and Manitoba will depend on how well we adapt to and use technology, how smart and knowledgeable our workers are, and our knowledge of and ability to trade in a global marketplace. Singapore will expose us to the very best practices in each of the key areas.

Some of what you will see and learn while in Singapore:

• How Singapore has gone from the bottom to the top of the global economy
• How the fibre-optic network links business, government and residents
• Tour world class high-tech electronics manufacturing and research facilities
• How leading edge Internet applications can link schools, students, teachers and parents
• What Singapore companies do to continue to develop, maintain and motivate knowledge workers
• How Singapore prepares its young people in training and education for a knowledge-based economy
• What Singapore is doing to become a world leader in e-commerce
• How Singapore business and government successfully develop and maintain new and existing partnerships

"The Chamber continues to be active with initiatives that support the development of Winnipeg as a Smart City. A wired Winnipeg that can boast a highly skilled workforce and a globally competitive business community are imperative to maintaining and attracting business to our City. Winnipeg's business and community leaders are stepping forward to help lead our city into the 21st Century. Please join us in Singapore. "
Irene Merie, Chairwoman - The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce

Key Points About Singapore

• A city-state of 3.8 million people who speak English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil
• Rated by Fortune Magazine as one of the best cities in the world for business, and to live and work
• Consulting firm A.T. Kearney recently rated Singapore as having the world's most global economy
• Cleanest and safest city in Asia
• Currently in negotiations with Canada on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement
• Fourth largest financial market in the world next to London, New York and Tokyo
• Most interconnected fibre-optic system in the world. Business, government and residents are inter-connected
• Recognized for having one of the most knowledgeable workforces in the world
• World leader in electronics manufacturing
• World's busiest port and largest container port
• Second highest per capita income in the world. Home ownership at 90%
• US$ 75 billion in foreign reserves on-hand and no foreign debt.

"One of the most striking things about Singapore, is the degree of connectedness of the leaders of business, the civil service and their various government agencies. They know each other to a large extent; they trust each other because they know each other and that makes the whole society work more smoothly."
Professor Edgar H. Schein, Sloan Fellows Professor of Management Emeritus