BBC BITESIZE (http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize)

In the 20th century many countries in east and south east Asia industrialised - including South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Philippines and Thailand. These nations are called newly industrialised countries or NICs. They are also sometimes referred to as tiger economies because of their rapid growth rate.
The governments of these NICs kept close control over industrial development, and encouraged industries to export manufactured products to the more developed and richer countries abroad.
The profits generated by exports were re-invested in the domestic economy. Domestic businesses grew, wages rose, and workers spent their new wealth on home-produced goods and services - thus stimulating further growth. This kind of cycle or knock-on effect, in which money paid out by businesses is re-invested in the economy, is sometimes called the multiplier effect.
The success of NIC economies has contributed to the decline, over the last 30 years, of manufacturing industries in MEDCs such as the UK. Industries struggled to compete with the cheaper competition from NICs, where production costs and wages were less.

The HANDOUT for the students can be downloaded from here (PDF download)

A striking image which I used as the background for all the slides.	A durian: a fruit which is banned from public transport in Singapore as it apparently smells of either rotting flesh, sweaty socks or some such smell. It's smell is also described as 'indescribable', and taste like 'onion flavoured yoghurt'.
China Point. Housing development.	Clark Quay by the Singapore River
Singapore signs on public transport. Note the 'No Durians'...	Shops in tourist area of CBD
More tourist developments - nice sun too!	Older Chinese buildings, prime suspects for gentrification

"At the moment there is a feeling of wealth. The budget has just given cash paybacks to the people of Singapore   The less off getting more.  Lee Kuan Yew has just got back from China and there is a real drive to make more trade links with them."

"The drive to economic take off has happened but they don't want it to tail off (and for complacency to set in) and they want to stay high in South East Asia - "world class" is a term that is often applied to developments and reasons for growth.  Some of the stricter laws seem to be being amended: they helped to control/ clean the place up and now the rewards are there."

"Any old Chinese buildings are now in the process of preservation or gentrification - Even trees are now becoming heritage trees.  It's a strange thought: conservation as a sign of economic wellbeing and development..."

"Fire crackers/ fireworks were banned but now they are allowed but only at organised events. Link to a site which just outlines some of these laws is below:

 http://www.entersingapore.info/country/Risk_Invest/Ci_20_set.htm 

"One of the big changes are developments to allow people to enjoy their leisure time.  New areas are being developed - 2 casinos are planned to be built by MGM group.  The Ministry of Sound has just opened: revamping the worn down tourist area of Clark Quay.  The Tourist Island of Sentosa is being revamped - "integrated tourist resort" is a term they like to use and "lifestyle" concepts.  The $8 billion revamp is explained here :

    http://www.sentosa.com.sg

 More parks (planned parks) are being developed or upgraded as well.

 

"There is fierce competition with Malaysia as they offer cheaper rates at ports and industrial areas, so Singapore is trying to widen its global market as it can't really under-cut the prices of Malaysia.  Dyson vacuum cleaners are now made in Malaysia and even Royal Doulton have re located to Indonesia - lots of china clay there."

 

"Even the MRT network can show the level of development as the network pattern is developing into the "heartlands" as the network was quite basic with only two lines when I arrived 5 years ago - link below...

 http://www.realdestination.com/singapore/transport/mrt%20map.php 

The new Circle line is being built at the moment."

 

"The education revamp aims to make education more world class. There is a big uptake of IB: away from 'O' level and 'A' levels. Some schools are piloting a 4 year IB program so no exams at year 11.  The University has announced more double degree course (4 years): partly to keep students here but also because the education standards are so high many of them can cope with studying two subjects."  

 

"In the Media:  "Eastenders" came to Singapore on Jan the 5th. They have widened the cable network to include BBC pRIME"

 

"Industry in Singapore is mostly based in Jurong, Tuas (west coast) and Changi (east coast) - all planned away from housing and so the prevailing winds blow away the fumes (if any)"

"There has been a huge development in biotechnology ( even the school curriculum has adapted to teach this:  Life sciences now includes microbiology - genetics - plant hybridisation)  There is the One North project which is a huge development of research labs 

 http://www.one-north.com

We use this as our location of a science park/high tech site case study. If you scroll along the links on the bottom right there is a walk around the exhibition.

 

"The changes that have occurred here in 5 years are amazing, so the change in 40 years has been incredible. Is this country the fastest to industrialise ???   Last year they had the 40th birthday celebrations:  http://www.ndp.org.sg