Selected areas of HDB flats in Singapore

For those looking for a relaxed atmosphere, the East Coast is the place to be, with the fabulous East Coast Park providing great beaches and is a great place for anyone looking to get away from the day-to-day hassle of the city. Try the Marine Parade area for proximity to the park.

If business is your number one priority, Orchard, River Valley, Newton and Outram Park all have thriving business districts close by, but few high quality HDB flats in this area available, instead, you will easily find high quality condominium around here. Of course, the price will be much higher than HDB flats.

Holland Village is a favorite amongst the youthful and the expatriate community, with many restaurants and bars close by to provide fun and entertainment.

Keep in mind

Check for proximity to the MRT, Singapore’s train system and most popular means of public transportation. Although not really necessary, if you do happen to have a vehicle of your own, keep in mind that most of the HDB buildings have parking facilities but you need to buy the parking ticket seasonally.Many of the HDB flats in Singapore are old and there are corridors connect each unit. The privacy will be a critical concern when considering renting such flats. However, corner unit is always better choice but you need pay more for it.Another issue with these older flats is the air-conditioning. With tropical weather air-conditioning units can be the difference between pleasant or unbearable living conditions within the flat, so it’s important you make sure the air-conditioning runs smoothly.

One important aspect is the elevators of the building. Although many buildings have already received elevator upgrades through the Lift Upgrading Program (LUP), the program has yet to reach all HDB flats in Singapore. It’s a good idea to see if the elevators reach all floors and are serviced regularly. You don’t want to end up having to walk up and down several stories on a daily basis, something that can be even more troublesome for the elderly and families with children.

A final word on HDB flats in Singapore

As in all housing searches, do your homework first. Feel free to be picky about things that bother you, because after all, you are the one who is going to be living in the flat. Although the HDB rental market is limited, local newspapers have rental advertisements that can be very helpful, and there are rental flat websites that can help as well. Good luck!

Budget accommodations in the Orchard district come in the form of hostels and dorm-style establishments. A good example would be the YMCA International House on 1 Orchard Road, which has dorm-style rooms but also has a gym and pool. Another example is Habitat Hostels, which has breakfasts and Wi-Fi internet access.

If one wants to take his accommodations a notch higher, Orchard hosts some of the finest mid-range establishments in the country. The Elizabeth hotel is an older establishment that offers excellent value for money. The colonial-style Rendezvous Hotel offers affordable rates despite the relatively modern amenities. Other mid-range hotels include the Orchard Parade Hotel and the YWCA Fort Canning Lodge.

While budget and mid-range hotels are available options for those on tight budgets, the number of high-end luxury hotels is where Orchard truly shines. Right at the center of the district is the Marriott, with Tang’s Department Store located in the building’s basement. Other luxury establishments include the Shangri-La, the Hilton Singapore, and the Grand Hyatt Singapore. The definitive features of these hotels are being located conveniently at or near the district’s center and, of course, offering a high level of comfort, luxury, and excellent service.

Once you step outside your Orchard Road Singapore hotel, there should be one thing on your mind, and that thing is something the surrounding establishments will be reminding every person: Shopping! But shopping is not the only thing worth doing in the Orchard Road area.

The stretch is also lined with a trio of Singapore’s best museums: The National Museum of Singapore, the Singapore Art Museum, and a British-headquarters-turned-museum called the Battle Box. There are also many places for dining, drinking, and other events and activities.

Getting around the Orchard Road area should be a breeze. Hopping from mall to mall should be doable even on foot. There is also an underground walkway system that links various areas within the district, such as the MRT station in Orchard and Ion Orchard to the eastern Lucky Plaza, the western Wheelock Place, and the Marriott to the north.

Staying at a hotel in the Orchard Road district is a fun and convenient way to experience what is perhaps the densest shopping district in the whole world. With a good range of Singapore hotels that cover the entire budget and target market spectrum, visitors and tourists of all budgets can book rooms right within the district.

With the state’s support of making Singapore an IT friendly environment for more than a decade now, has helped prepare the country in the processing of IT products and services, build the necessary infrastructure and technology aimed to promote further the quality and standard of living among Singapore’s populace.

If you’re an IT professional then you’re in luck as the country is in demand of professionals such as: programmers, broadcasting operations professionals, computer operations professionals and network managers, computer system operators, computer animators, multimedia programmers, network and systems administrators, network systems and data communications analysts, software engineers, system programmers, telecommunications engineers, system designers and analysts, Telecommunication service supervisors and professionals, telecommunications installers and services, electrical linemen and production technicians are among a few of Singapore jobs that is hiring.

Plus, Singapore’s multinational companies is continually bringing in more developments and new technologies that will add another level up the skill meter for the professional or will add more opportunities to the industry in general.

Search online now and find the job that you want, among the various job hosting services online with just a push of a button. You can also give the place a try out and experience the difference yourself.

Singapore offers low corporate and personal tax rates, ensuring that your business will thrive there. Businesses which make profits below the SGD 300,000 mark are taxed at 9%, while all businesses that make above SGD 300,000 are taxed at a maximum of 18%. As added benefits, the Singapore tax system does not include any corporate gains tax and functions on a single tier system. This means that once businesses are taxed, they are free to dispose of the dividends to their shareholders, tax free. Singapore is also home to one of the lowest Goods and Services taxes in the world. GST in Singapore is capped at 7% as opposed to the 16.4% average GST being charged all over the world.

Singapore has one of the most transparent and efficient legal systems in the world. This ensures that all disputes are settled and all legalities taken care of as fast and as well as possible, with minimum expenditure. Regulations as to minimum wages and working hours are well defined to cause minimal confusion. Ensure that you comply with all of these policies when you move your business to Singapore.

Hiring local employees would require your business to register with the Central Provident Fund (CPF) and contribute to it. If you plan on bringing in foreign employees, you will need to obtain a Work Pass from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower.

Based on what type of business you start in Singapore, relevant licences and permits will need to be obtained.

When moving to Singapore it is also necessary to respect the region’s business culture and traditions, in your interactions with the people there. There are traditional ways of greeting Singaporean entrepreneurs of Chinese, Malay and Indian origin, but the handshake is acceptable as a form of greeting with all businessmen. Also keep in mind that the Singaporeans are extremely cautious businesspeople and never make hasty business decisions and believe in building long lasting relationships with their partners in business. Losing your temper or replying in the negative rather than promising to consider suggestions that are on the table are some of the ways to ruin business ties in Singapore. Maintaining a calm demeanour and keeping your tone gentle on the other hand, will help your business succeed.

• The ease of doing business
A high ranking on the ease of doing business index means that the regulatory environment is conducive to the operation of a business. Also, the Singapore economy is based on free enterprise, with no restrictions on foreign ownership of business.

• Employing workers
Employing workers measures the flexibility of labour laws among various countries over the world. It examines the difficulty of hiring a new worker, rigidity in terms of working hours and problems faced while dismissing a worker.

• Trading across borders
This ease of trading across borders criteria includes documentation, time and cost to export and import. Singapore is also ranked first for having the most open economy for international trade and investment by the World Economic Forum.

• Taxation

Singapore is business friendly and an ideal country for company formation because of the ease with which taxes can be filed and paid, and also its low corporate tax rates relative to many developed economies in the world. From Year of Assessment 2010 onwards, the corporate tax rate of Singapore is to be 17%, just 0.5% higher than that of Hong Kong – Singapore’s closest competitor in the Asia region.

However, the effective tax rate is significantly lower than most of the countries, if not all the countries, in the region. With a further reduction in the 1% from 18% to 17% in corporate tax rate, it will enhance Singapore’s appeal to attract investment dollars.

In addition, the Singapore Government has been actively trying to encourage the growth of a knowledge-based economy and have in place a myriad of tax incentives – thereby lowering the effective tax rates of companies. Some of the tax incentives schemes handed out by the Economic Development Board of Singapore (EDB) include:

• Pioneer Industries
The EDB may grant pioneer incentive to an approved industry which is not being carried on in Singapore on a scale adequate to the economic needs of Singapore, and for which there are favourable prospects for development. The tax relief period of a pioneer enterprise shall commence on its production day and shall continue for such period, not exceeding 15 years.

• Pioneer Service Companies
Similar to the Pioneer Industries scheme, it is granted to services which fall under the list of ‘qualifying activities’. These include any engineering or technical services such as laboratory, consultancy and research and development activities, computer-based information and other computer related services, the development or production of any industrial design and such other services or activities as may be prescribed.

• Development & Expansion Incentive
A tax relief period of up to 10 years as the Minister may determine not exceeding 5 years for each period may be granted upon approval to the manufacturing or increased manufacturing of any product from any industry that would be of economic benefit to Singapore.

• Enhanced Tax Deduction for Research & Development (R&D) expenses
Where a taxpayer directly carries out qualifying R&D activities in Singapore, he can claim a further deduction of 50% of the amount of qualifying R&D expenses incurred. This is in addition to the 100% deduction he can claim for such expenditure.

In essence, with efficient planning and structuring, Singapore is a great jurisdiction for company incorporation, as it results in a higher net profit after tax. The efficient economy, good infrastructure, skilled workforce and sound economic policies in place has certainly boosted Singapore’s reputation an ideal jurisdiction to do business in.

When you are transporting cargo, getting the right documentation ready makes a big difference in cutting costs. If you have the documentation before hand, then you can request lower costing from a forwarder. Also, the fines associated with wrong documentation can be very high.

While some freight companies might offer a low quote for comprehensive services like packaging, transportation and storage, it is also possible that you may secure a lower rate if you hire different companies to handle some services individually. It is important to be aware of the industry rates of individual services if you want to get the best possible rate. Looking at various competitors and getting a number of quotes before choosing the final company will also help.

The rate of shipping cargo varies according to the type of cargo that needs to be freighted. Rates are fairly low if the cargo fits into containers, as this makes it possible to ship it along with other goods.

If you are looking to ship heavy machinery or industrial equipment, you will have to pay more for transport. Goods that require special care like perishables, ensure that precautions are taken in terms of packaging, to prevent spoilage or breaking. This is one area where quality standards cannot be dropped for a better price as it could compromise your entire shipment.

Arab Street: A rather unique shopping experience can be found at Arab Street where there are hundreds of small stores in a bazaar style setting which sell a wide range of products and items. Be sure to haggle with the shop keepers as it is definitely expected! This area of town is most famous for its textiles and in particular Asian silk.

No trip to Singapore can possibly be complete without a visit to the Little India section of this city.  There are a number of popular products whichyou can purchase in Little India which include spices,jewelry,jasmine  garlands, brassware and silk items.

Marina Square: One of the largest malls is the Marina Square which is located along Raffles Boulevard. There are over three hundred stores and boutiques at the Marina Square mall and it also offers a wide range of entertainment venues to shoppers which include a large bowling alley and a multi screen movie theater.

Raffles City Center: For well known fashion designers and famous brand names you should head over to the Raffles City Center which is located along North Bridge Road. Some of the most popular retailers at this Singapore shopping venue include Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and Guess.

Suntec City Mall: The Suntec City Mall is the largest venue to go shopping and is very popular with both tourists as well as local residents. The largest fountain in the world is located here and you will find hundreds of stores, restaurants and entertainment options.

Orchard Road: Orchard Road is located in the center of town and is where many of the leading hotels, restaurants, malls and shops are located. Orchard Road is a great place to spend the day and to simply wonder around, enjoy a bite to eat and check out the latest bargains.  If you are planning to do a lot of shopping during your vacation.

Shopping centers are designed to make their retail experience as fluid and as velvety as possible. Well trained concierge staff, retail staff and cashiers who seem to have a smile transfixed on their face and a warm greeting always on the tip of their tongue are predominant in many of these department stores.

There are some graduate degrees which make one financially sound. For example, a graduate diploma in business is highly appropriate for someone who wants to make his or her career in business. But this does not hold true for everyone. A person with a graduate diploma in music does not mean that he or she is financially sound unless they have a quality graduate education. Before enrolling in a graduate school, one should see whether the time and money spent is really worth in the short and long run. If there is nodefinitive and positive result, then a graduate degree or a diploma is really a wastage of time and money.

Holders of graduate degrees in English, Philosophy, drama, etc are increasingly finding it difficult to secure employment in the business sector and they tend to shift their career to other niche options. Among these, an MBA degree or an Executive Master degree are the most sought after option. These days it is seen that students are inclined towards doing an MBA or Executive Master degree to get lucrative jobs in the leading MNCs offering attractive salary and perks. It is seen that students from different countries are heading towards Singapore for doing MBA in the leading Singaporean Universities.

AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of a high quality and internationally recognized graduate degree. A good quality graduate education improves ones individuality and gives them recognition in society. They are also beneficial to the institution as well as in the development of their nation, which is seen in countries like Singapore, Sweden and Finland where human capital is the main competitive asset of the nation. Graduate schools like Chicago and The City University of New York are already in Singapore, which attract experienced professionals across ASEAN.

Singapore is a country offering varied study options for the graduate students like Masters in Finance, Masters in Psychology, Masters in Marketing to name a few. Emphasis is given to ensure that every student thinks and acts like global citizens and contribute towards the development of the nation. They are encouraged to attend seminars and workshops to help them gain knowledge into the working world, both in Singapore and overseas.

So, with time this became an annual event. The Chinese community living in Singapore celebrates the Dumpling Festival on the fifth day of the fifth month each year. They celebrate this by organising colourful dragon boat races and consume hundreds and hundreds of dumplings. They relate the dragon races to the search for the body of their beloved Qu Yuan.
Zongzi or dumplings are small rice packets that are enclosed in bamboo leaves. To prevent the dragons from eating the rice packets, the people tied them with bright colour silk threads.

Since recent times many new items have added more colour and excitement to the Dumpling Festival. These new items include lion dances, Chinese opera and orchestra shows and karaoke evenings. The highlight of the festival happens when the people of the parade gather at the Albert Mall.

This vibrant and fun filled festival can be enjoyed by staying at a nearby Singapore luxury hotel such as Raffles Hotel, Singapore which is renowned for offering world class service along with an extensive range of contemporary amenities.

The Orchard Road: The Orchard Road, simply called as Orchard, is the city’s entertainment and retail hub and is one of the popular tourist attractions in Singapore. The entire area is full of shopping malls and shops. During Christmas time, the beautiful Christmas decorations attract the tourists. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve: This is a spectacular natural reserve bordered by a rainforest. Spread over an area of about 164 hectares, the place is the address of various types of plants. Bukit Timah Hill, regarded as Singapore’s highest point, is the main attraction here. While roaming in this green nature reserve, the sweet melody of birds and voices of pangolins or monkeys will definitely accompany you.

Jurong Bird Park: It is a popular aviary in Singapore. It is the address of more than 8,000 birds of approximately 600 different species. The beautiful landscape of the park blended with the world’s tallest man-made waterfall will mesmerize your senses.

Sentosa: One of the popular tourist attractions in Singapore, this spectacular island is situated off the country’s southern coast. The island is the address of some of Singapore’s best beaches. During your visit to Sentosa, do not forget to visit the Underwater World to explore the captivating marine life which promises endless enjoyment to the tourists. The Underwater World in Sentosa is considered as one of the most adventurous and thrilling tropical oceanariums in Asia featuring more than 2,500 marine species. A travellator will guide you through the 80 meter acrylic tunnel and you will feel as if you have stepped deep inside the ocean. Dreadful sharks, stingrays, sea dragons, turtles, moray eels, lovely pink dolphins, a variety of fishes, and several other creatures will swim just next to you and over you.

Night Safari: The Night Safari in Singapore gives you a chance to get a close view of the nocturnal animals, which is usually a rare sight. This is possible by means of special “moonlight” lights illumination. Tourists can also walk along the illuminated tracks amidst the jungle into the territory of sloths, rhinoceros and tigers.