Singapore is nonaligned. It is a member of the United Nations and several of its specialized and related agencies, and also of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Commonwealth. The country has participated in UN peacekeeping/observer missions in Kuwait, Angola, Namibia, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste. Singapore supports two Provincial Reconstruction Teams and provides refueling aircraft in support of international efforts in Afghanistan. It strongly supports regional and international anti-piracy efforts, and has undertaken a leadership role in anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden. Singapore supports the concept of Southeast Asian regionalism and plays an active role in ASEAN, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
U.S.-SINGAPORE RELATIONS
The United States has maintained formal diplomatic relations with Singapore since it became independent in 1965. Singapore's efforts to maintain economic growth and political stability and its support for regional cooperation harmonize with U.S. policy in the region and form a solid basis for amicable relations between the two countries. The United States and Singapore signed a bilateral free trade agreement on May 6, 2003; the agreement entered into force on January 1, 2004. The growth of U.S. investment in Singapore and the large number of Americans living there enhance opportunities for contact between Singapore and the United States. Many Singaporeans visit and study in the United States. Singapore is a Visa Waiver Program country.
Singapore continues to attract investment funds on a large scale despite its relatively high-cost operating environment. The United States leads in foreign investment, accounting for 15.2% of new actual investment in the manufacturing sector in 2010. As of 2010, the stock of investment by U.S. companies in the manufacturing and services sectors in Singapore reached about $106.04 billion (total assets). The bulk of U.S. investment is in electronics manufacturing and the finance and insurance industries. Non-bank holding companies accounted for 59.2% of total investment. About 2,000 U.S. firms operate in Singapore.
The government also has encouraged firms to invest outside Singapore, with the country's total direct investments abroad reaching $247.06 billion by the end of 2009. China was the top destination, accounting for 17.1% of total overseas investments, followed by the United Kingdom (12.3%), Malaysia (8.4%), Hong Kong (6.3%), Thailand (5.7%), Indonesia (7.7%), Australia (6.8%), and the United States (3.5%).
New Delhi – Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. and a unit of Adhunik Metaliks Ltd. are among three companies shortlisted by the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand to develop three coal blocks at a total investment of 11.75 billion rupees ($237 million).
The three companies are to produce 3.6 million metric tons of coal annually in the next few years to feed their own projects, two senior officials at Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corp. said recently.
The agency, which is responsible for developing mineral deposits in the state, last year invited bids for joint development of three blocks–Rabodh, Patratu and Pindra Debipur–with combined reserves of 645 million tons of coking and non-coking coal. The bids were opened last week.
Jharkhand State Mineral Development was earlier warned by the federal coal ministry that the allotment of these blocks could be cancelled due to a delay in developing them. This has prompted the agency to seek developers for the blocks allotted to it in 2006 and 2007.
India, which is facing a coal shortage of at least 114 million tons in the current financial year through March, has so far given 195 blocks with about 43.34 billion tons of reserves to private and government companies to mine the fuel for their own projects. But, only a few of them are in production.
One of the Jharkhand officials said the final agreements to develop the fields are likely to be signed in 15 days.
Both officials didn’t want to be named before the agency announces the winning bidders.
According to them, Jindal Steel & Power emerged as the successful bidder to develop the Rabodh block, which is likely to entail an investment of 6.25 billion rupees to produce 2.5 million tons of coal annually.
This is great, why if anyone can not see it, post real DD! Why does Singapore courts have any control, TOTALLY LOST ME, but does happen in overseas transactions. :{)
