Singapore is famous for its kiasu-ism — an obsession with always being first in line — and this attitude is reflected in the recent The Global Competiveness Report.
Coming in second place after Switzerland, Singapore is one of three Asian countries to have made it into the top 10, the other two being Hong Kong in 7th, and Japan in 9th.
Our neighbour Malaysia jumped two spots up from 15th to 12th — this comes after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s statement last November stating the government’s intention to break into the top 10 of the competitiveness index.
Despite its gradual rise, a recent report by recruiting firm Kelly Services found that 20 percent of Malaysia’s talent pool were swimming to our shores for better opportunities.
See who else made it to the top 10.
To read The Global Competitiveness Report 2013/2014 in full, download it here.
Photo: AFP / Roslan Rahman
