In 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles claimed Singapore for the British East India company, at that time it was nothing but a swampy, thickly jungled island populated by a handful of fishermen and sea gypsies. 

Today it is a vibrant, modern city-state of 2.8 Million people - one of Asia's economic "dragons" and the regional centre for trade, transport, banking, tourism and communication.  

Singapore's success is due mainly to its ideal location on the busy sea routes between East and West. For centuries before Raffle's arrival the island had witnessed the passage of Chinese junk, Buginese (prabus), Arab (dhows) and Indian vessel of every shape and size.