Since its independence in 1959, an ambitious program of industrialization was set up. In parallel, Singapore rose little by little among the great international financial centers. Consequent tax advantages attracted the foreign firms there. As well as the vital activities of import-export of its free port, these measurements ensured to Singapore one of the economic growth rates fastest of the world throughout the years 1970. Singapore is today the second port of the world and its standard of living is equivalent to that of France.