Singapore has pioneered how public housing, or Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, can benefit locals without creating a financial burden. The system is credited with clearing Singapore's slums of the 1960s, allowing low-paid workers a chance to live in state-built housing for a fraction of the cost. Today, Singapore's HDB flats house around 82 per cent of Singaporeans and are considered a model for modern government.

From the glittering office towers of Marina Bay Financial Centre to the luxurious 54-storey Orchard Residences and the restored colonial-era buildings of the Fullerton Heritage precinct, Hong Kong property developers have become a prominent fixture on the Singapore skyline. Hongkong Land, Sun Hung Kai Properties, Cheung Kong Property Holdings and Wheelock Properties are also looking to expand their reach in the city state through land acquisitions or new projects. 

Founded in 1967, a mere two years after Singapore entered a brave new world of independence, DP Architects was in the thick of the country's nation-building and urban development, becoming an important contributor to its public projects. 

It's a red-letter day for the "little red dot", as the small but ubiquitous island nation of Singapore celebrates 50 years of independence. Signifying dreams that are not limited to the city state's physical size, Singapore's spirit - driven by ideals of community resilience, racial harmony and determination - has captivated the global business community.

Technology can sometimes be disruptive. Amazon.com's automated warehouse, Google's driverless car and dozens of other inventions are changing the skill sets workers need for the future. To meet this burgeoning demand, Singapore implemented the SkillsFuture programme, which gives Singaporeans of any working age easy access to education to develop the appropriate skills required by the modern city state moving forward. One of the programme anchors, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), is fast gaining a reputation locally and abroad for its innovative approach to applied learning that integrates learning with industry and the community.

The world's economic centre of gravity is shifting eastwards, propelled by rapid urbanisation and industrialisation in Asia's developing countries. The economic shift is creating wealth in the region, opening up enormous opportunities for business and investments. Embodying the dynamism of the new Asia, DBS Bank has ascended to greater heights as one of a few institutions to have developed the organisational flexibility, financial strength and product capability to cater to the region's evolving financial needs.

As higher energy costs challenge the world to meet rising consumption, Asia's robust economic growth is creating new business opportunities in sustainable energy. EDMI - a global leader in smart energy solutions - has joined the race.

With clever urban planning, Singapore has overcome its limited resources like water. In the 1970s, when many foreign companies took advantage of the country's promotion as a quick start-up location, the modern city-state required entrants to recycle at least 60 per cent of their industrial wastewater. 

From drilling, turning, milling to grinding applications used in sectors as diverse as carmaking, engineering, energy, oil and gas and aerospace, there is only one name trusted by industry leaders for their clamping and chucking devices - ROHM.

Market access to South Asia and Oceania has proven challenging for many companies. Nippon Express (South Asia and Oceania) has simplified the supply chain management of these vast markets through its one-stop forwarding and logistics services by managing the Nippon Express group of companies in 13 countries in the region.

Since the internet boom at the turn of the millennium, companies and individuals have depended extensively on the internet for virtually all their business and social needs. Never before has the world been so interconnected at such a global scale. 

Cross-border trading and investment between Asia-Pacific and the Americas flourish under the guidance of The Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) in Singapore. Since 1974, Scotiabank has enriched the region's energy, infrastructure, financial services and natural resources sectors with its local relationships and global capabilities.

With a construction order book of about S$1 billion (HK$5.7 billion) as of August last year and an expansive suite of construction-related businesses, Lian Beng can be considered one of the largest home-grown construction groups in Singapore today.

In the fast-changing technology industry, a resilient company is characterised by its willingness to continually innovate to create new products.

Smart cards function as keys to an increasingly digitised world. More people have adopted the use of smart cards because of the convenience and security they offer. With its expertise in smart card connector technology, Linxens provides access to a spectrum of applications that can transform the way Asian customers experience telecommunications, transport, financial and other services. 

Singapore's leading hospitality institute, SHATEC, has been training some of Asia's top hotel and tourism professionals for more than 30 years. Trusted in the region for its competence and cutting-edge methodologies, SHATEC continues to update its offerings via international academic partnerships and mentorship programmes to produce adept and well-rounded graduates.

A Singaporean firm formed nearly 60 years ago, RSP Architects Planners & Engineers is one of Asia's top architectural practices today. Propelled by its vision of enriching and transforming lives through visionary master planning and good architectural design, RSP has grown from an initial 16 staff to 1,400 professionals worldwide. Advancing its involvement and expertise in multidisciplinary fields, the firm combines sustainability and aesthetics in creating buildings and public spaces.

Excellent workmanship and good customer relationships, built on trust and professionalism, have propelled Grandwork Interior into a leading high-end interior fit-out company in Singapore. With its newly built 120,000-square-foot manufacturing facility opening this year, Grandwork is fit to soar into greater heights as it develops more collaborations in Southeast Asia, and cultivates joint ventures and acquisitions in China.

A 45-minute ferry ride away from Singapore's bustling business district, Batam offers more than a convenient location for some of the region's largest, most hi-tech industrial parks. Its proximity to Singapore enables it to emulate the country's best practices, systems and technologies while benefiting from Indonesia's cost efficiency, tax incentives and inexpensive labour.

Underpinned by growth in manufacturing activities and rising consumer demand, the Asian economic zone continues to flourish. This has created opportunities for many shipping companies to develop their regional portfolios by leveraging the business environment in countries well-positioned as international maritime centres such as Singapore.

The industrial valves market is expecting a boost from the oil and gas sector as more oil and natural gas pipeline projects are being implemented on the mainland and across Southeast Asia. With demand for high-quality and customised valve technology on the upswing, AS-Schneider Asia-Pacific is firmly established to deliver the best-fit solutions to energy and industrial applications in the region.

Not long ago, when Singapore was still a fledgling independent country, nation-building meant paving roads, raising bridges and erecting buildings where there were previously none. The industrial and economic stronghold that is the Singapore of today redefines nation-building as creating a sustainable future where roads withstand the wear and tear of the bustling metropolis, old structures give life to new ones, and waste provides power and resources.

Business continuity and crisis management planning are among the top concerns of corporations in today's world. As the leading insurance broker and risk management adviser with a legacy of nearly 60 years in Asia and more than 40 years in Singapore, Marsh helps clients succeed by defining, designing and delivering innovative, industry-specific solutions.

Collaboration among partners committed to improving the lives of patients with high-quality drugs is critical in the pharmaceutical industry. A. Menarini Asia-Pacific exemplifies this with strong business growth in one of the world's most diversified regions. 

Anybody who has enjoyed a cup of espresso at a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf branch or dined at Burger King or a Food Republic food court has unknowingly experienced the aesthetic and practical advantages of Comfort Design's furniture. With the most diverse selection of chairs and tables used by the biggest brands in the food, beverage and hospitality industries, Comfort Design has secured a place in Singapore's list of distinguished home-grown companies.