Intelligence is Value

Ease of doing business notwithstanding, doing business in a country with a different culture, people, language, cuisine, and dress code is certainly a shocker especially if you are an entrepreneur coming from Canada or US. But respect for cultural diversity is essential for Singapore society. To make it easier for businessmen, culture in Singapore is based more on relationships than financial transactions. This is something that is hard to understand for an American, but crucial for succeeding in this Asian city state that has a population made up with descendants of Indian and Chinese immigrants brought here to work in rubber plantations by the British in the 19th and 20th centuries.

This is where it is prudent for the westerners to show patience as business does not seem to grow fast initially in Singapore. Singaporeans give more weightage to relationships and let the association cement and take shape. This is why entrepreneurs belonging to alien cultures must remain patient to allow the business to grow. To help his business, an entrepreneur must build relations to build business. Showing respect is also given importance and this is why people call others not by their first names but by calling out Mr. this and that until a relationship has been cemented.