The latest A.T Kearney Global Cities Index has proven that Singapore is a powerhouse in terms of online presence and exchange of information.
According to the index, Singapore tops the global ranking for online presence, which is used to measure a city's information exchange level. This includes a strong access to information via the internet and other media sources.
Singapore's robust online infrastructure has led to it jumping two spots to rank sixth in A.T Kearney's Global Cities Index 2017, the highest rank it has achieved so far.
The Global Cities Index ranks cities around the world in terms of performance across five critical dimensions: business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience and political engagement.
Meanwhile, Singapore rose six places in the Global Cities Outlook, placing 11th in the rankings. The outlook considers prospects for the cities on metrics across four key parameters: personal well-being, economics, innovation and governance. In this part, Singapore took the joint top spot for governance, a metric used to gauge the long-term stability of a city through transparency, quality of bureaucracy and ease of doing business.
A.T. Kearney Partner and Head of Southeast Asia Soon Ghee Chua said economic development by itself is no longer sufficient for a city to be a global hotspot.
"Cities are now measured on whether economic development is making lives better for residents. On that front, Singapore is a clear global leader. Its business-friendly environment, a world-class education system and digital connectivity have helped companies and individuals thrive, turning it into a leading global hub," he said.
He added, "With an unrelenting focus on maintaining the highest quality of standards and ethics in bureaucracy and governance, the city-state is not only performing well today but is also positioning itself for continued growth and global influence in the future."
