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I am really confused here. First, Old Goat says that Finland can afford a mediocre govt. Now, Thambi Pres wants to learn from the same country that has a mediocre govt.? What's going on here? I don't know how he can say Finland is an old country. It has only be in existence since 1917. Before that, it was part of Sweden. In fact, Finland was an agrarian society until the 1950s, where it started to Industrialised. Finland is no more old in terms of a modern economy than S'pore is. The population of singapore is about the same as the population of Finland. If Thambi prataman wants to learn something from them he should learn the following:
- How come Finland can be successful without wholesale importation of FTs? U don't see thousands of Turks, Algerians or Pakis walking around Helsinki.
- How come Finland can still be the Best Country in the World according to Newsweek, the 7th most competitive country in the world, the second most stable country in the world, and the most prosperous country in the world, and yet provide one of the most comprehensive welfare systems in the world for its people?
- Why dun he learn how Finland can rpovide free health care to its people, maternity benefits, comprehensive unemployment benefits, excellent pension plans, disability pension and allowance, childcare benefits, etc. and Sinkieland got shit?
Go all the way there and the only thing he and Lim Chee Bye learn is to raise the retirement age to 68? Fuck u thambi piece of shit.
S'pore has "a lot to learn" from Finland, says President Nathan
By Hetty Musfirah | Posted: 29 October 2010 2132 hrs
SINGAPORE: President S R Nathan said Singapore has a lot to learn from mature economies like Finland especially when it comes to meeting future challenges.
He was speaking to Singapore media after wrapping up his state visit to Finland today.
Describing his six-day (24-29 October) visit as a fruitful one, President Nathan said he found similarities in Finland's and Singapore's economies.
Both countries are dependent on exports and were hit during the economic meltdown.
But he felt there was a difference in how both countries overcame the issue.
"The spirit in which they recovered was very encouraging to me, because we were in a similar plight, we overcome it, we could not get a sense of how we achieved it. Whereas in their case, I think everybody pulled together, that was the sense they gave us," said Mr Nathan.
Mr Nathan went on to describe Finland as an egalitarian society that has a spirit to endure and get things done and these are attributes he hopes to see Singapore emulate.
"We have got a lot to learn from these old countries because they have gone through these phases and they have reached a level of maturity, where they can take the ups and downs very easily. We being a new country, we are vulnerable in our region, in time and again, we have to exhort our people to understand, people say why are you exhorting them all the time? We have to, you will have to do it for your people and it will take us 3-4 generations.
"I think in our interaction with them we have seen an egalitarian society...the people are quietly efficient and they are have a philosophy of getting things done. It is a spirit that we must acquire instead of grumbling- that whatever they do, whatever their differences, but when it comes to the best interest of the nation, they feel they should endure it to get things done. And I think it's a good philosophy to follow."
Mr Nathan said he had wide-ranging discussions with the country's president and prime minister and added that Finland hopes that the Singapore-EU free trade agreement will be a building block for trade agreements.
They discussed about the EU-ASEAN free trade agreement and how to proceed with it.
"I stressed to them how important it was not to allow this region-region partnership to be hijacked by one single disagreement. In life, there will be always be disagreements on one kind or the other and we must overcome that. And we must not leave things in suspense just because of one. And I think they took it in spirit of friendship and they agreed that one issue should not hold the regional cooperation between the two regions as hostage."
Mr Nathan said Finland is now looking forward to expanding their economic engagement both within their own area and beyond. The country also sees merit working with Singapore as a hub. He added that tourism between the two countries will get a boost when Finnair has direct flights to Singapore in May next year.
Finnish companies are already making inroads in Singapore. Mr Nathan also revealed that the world's largest renewable diesel plant in Singapore, which is operated by Neste Oil, will be operational by early November.
And when asked about the upcoming presidential election in Singapore, the 86 year old only had this to say.
"It must happen next year, as I have said, I can't live forever, wait and see. If I continue, I continue, if don't continue then I don't continue, you want me to continue?"
Mr Nathan was first elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2005.
- How come Finland can be successful without wholesale importation of FTs? U don't see thousands of Turks, Algerians or Pakis walking around Helsinki.
- How come Finland can still be the Best Country in the World according to Newsweek, the 7th most competitive country in the world, the second most stable country in the world, and the most prosperous country in the world, and yet provide one of the most comprehensive welfare systems in the world for its people?
- Why dun he learn how Finland can rpovide free health care to its people, maternity benefits, comprehensive unemployment benefits, excellent pension plans, disability pension and allowance, childcare benefits, etc. and Sinkieland got shit?
Go all the way there and the only thing he and Lim Chee Bye learn is to raise the retirement age to 68? Fuck u thambi piece of shit.
S'pore has "a lot to learn" from Finland, says President Nathan
By Hetty Musfirah | Posted: 29 October 2010 2132 hrs
SINGAPORE: President S R Nathan said Singapore has a lot to learn from mature economies like Finland especially when it comes to meeting future challenges.
He was speaking to Singapore media after wrapping up his state visit to Finland today.
Describing his six-day (24-29 October) visit as a fruitful one, President Nathan said he found similarities in Finland's and Singapore's economies.
Both countries are dependent on exports and were hit during the economic meltdown.
But he felt there was a difference in how both countries overcame the issue.
"The spirit in which they recovered was very encouraging to me, because we were in a similar plight, we overcome it, we could not get a sense of how we achieved it. Whereas in their case, I think everybody pulled together, that was the sense they gave us," said Mr Nathan.
Mr Nathan went on to describe Finland as an egalitarian society that has a spirit to endure and get things done and these are attributes he hopes to see Singapore emulate.
"We have got a lot to learn from these old countries because they have gone through these phases and they have reached a level of maturity, where they can take the ups and downs very easily. We being a new country, we are vulnerable in our region, in time and again, we have to exhort our people to understand, people say why are you exhorting them all the time? We have to, you will have to do it for your people and it will take us 3-4 generations.
"I think in our interaction with them we have seen an egalitarian society...the people are quietly efficient and they are have a philosophy of getting things done. It is a spirit that we must acquire instead of grumbling- that whatever they do, whatever their differences, but when it comes to the best interest of the nation, they feel they should endure it to get things done. And I think it's a good philosophy to follow."
Mr Nathan said he had wide-ranging discussions with the country's president and prime minister and added that Finland hopes that the Singapore-EU free trade agreement will be a building block for trade agreements.
They discussed about the EU-ASEAN free trade agreement and how to proceed with it.
"I stressed to them how important it was not to allow this region-region partnership to be hijacked by one single disagreement. In life, there will be always be disagreements on one kind or the other and we must overcome that. And we must not leave things in suspense just because of one. And I think they took it in spirit of friendship and they agreed that one issue should not hold the regional cooperation between the two regions as hostage."
Mr Nathan said Finland is now looking forward to expanding their economic engagement both within their own area and beyond. The country also sees merit working with Singapore as a hub. He added that tourism between the two countries will get a boost when Finnair has direct flights to Singapore in May next year.
Finnish companies are already making inroads in Singapore. Mr Nathan also revealed that the world's largest renewable diesel plant in Singapore, which is operated by Neste Oil, will be operational by early November.
And when asked about the upcoming presidential election in Singapore, the 86 year old only had this to say.
"It must happen next year, as I have said, I can't live forever, wait and see. If I continue, I continue, if don't continue then I don't continue, you want me to continue?"
Mr Nathan was first elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2005.
