• Growing Cluster of Non-Profit Organisations
• A Base to Serve Asia’s Needs
• Global Business City
• Talent and Thought Leadership for Non-Profit Management
• A Stable and Conducive Environment to Flourish
• Growing Centre for Philanthropy
• Convenient Point of Assistance

Singapore is currently home to close to 80 International Non-Profit Organisations (INPOs) - a number that has increased by more than twofold since 2005. They span a range of sectors including inter-governmental organisations (IGOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with a social, humanitarian or environmental focus, industry associations, philanthropic foundations, think tanks and corporate social responsibility (CSR) organisations. We are also seeing a growing number of social enterprises and social enterprise platforms which incorporate a social or environmental cause into a sustainable business model.

In the face of Asia's challenges, including natural disasters, poverty and environmental degradation; interest in CSR and philanthropy has also grown in tandem with rising Asian wealth. Corporate social responsibility is also on the rise among corporations, paving the way for more interaction between the non-profit sector, social enterprises and the business world. For INPOs looking for a base to serve Asia’s needs, Singapore fits the bill by having a pro-business environment, global talent and rising interest in philanthropy.

Singapore’s existing strengths as a financial centre, logistics and information hub also puts us in good stead to serve as an IO humanitarian response hub for the region.

INPOs can tap on Singapore’s pro-business environment, which has been rated number one in the world (EIU Country Forecast, 2008). Its large pool of some 7,000 multinational companies, of which 60 per cent carry out regional or global operations are not here by accident. Singapore is a global logistics base complete with strong air, sea and land connectivity and a seamless, reliable telecommunications network. All of these are important enablers for INPOs to gain access to the region and respond quickly to needs. In addition, the state’s comprehensive, state-of-the-art meeting and convention facilities can support a range of events and activities from board meetings to global conventions.

Singapore is a magnet for international talent to work, live and play in a cosmopolitan city state. It is a Global Schoolhouse where a highly-educated, multi-cultural, English-speaking workforce is groomed from three local and 16 leading foreign tertiary institutions. Within the non-profit sector, Singapore aims to be a focal point for research and thought leadership in Asia, and this includes being a centre for education and training. Key institutions include the Lien Foundation Centre for Social Innovation at Singapore Management University and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

Setting up shop in a place like Singapore which enjoys political stability and neutrality is crucial for INPOs. Singapore’s strong rule of law and sense of corporate governance also discourages corruption and makes the environment conducive for managing programmes throughout the region. In addition, interests in Singapore are moving beyond economic considerations towards social, philanthropic, humanitarian and CSR issues.

2.6 million High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) with a total wealth of US$8.4 trillion live within a seven-hour flight radius of Singapore. It also enjoys the highest HNWI growth rate of 21.2% globally (Merrill Lynch Asia-Pacific Wealth Report 2007). This increase in affluence is giving rise to a growing interest in philanthropy; and as a key financial hub in Asia-Pacific, Singapore is well positioned to host trusts and foundations. In 2008, Singapore’s charitable giving totalled S$687 million. The attractive environment is indeed conducive for private fundraising and fund management for philanthropic organisations.

To help facilitate international INPOs in setting up base in Singapore, a dedicated International Organisations Programme Office (IOPO) was established in 2007 as a multi-agency initiative led by EDB. The office will provide one-stop-shop assistance and information to these organisations, and continue to assist their needs even after setting up in Singapore. To learn more about the IOPO, and how to start up your INPO in Singapore, please click here.