Free Wireless Internet Access

Singaporeans have reason to smile this September during Singapore 2006. Users of the September 2006 network will enjoy FREE, seamless, in-door wireless broadband access with speeds of up to 512kbps at most public areas within the five shopping malls - Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Suntec City Mall, Raffles City Shopping Centre, CityLink Mall, Millenia Walk and Marina Square Shopping Centre. A month-long FREE Wireless@SG service is organised by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) as a lead-up to the commercial deployment of Wireless@SG in January 2007, nation-wide. So grab your notebook, PDA or Smartphone and rush down there, for your free "lunch"... that is if you pass the security check.

To encourage wide usage, accessing the September Wireless@SG Network is made easy. With their Wi-Fi enabled notebook or PDA, users simply scan for, selectand connect to the “Wireless@SG” network. Once they launch the Internet browser of their choice, they will be greeted with the “Wireless@SG” welcome page and can immediately enjoy the FREE Internet access.

Singapore 2006

Singapore 2006 is a showcase of Singapore´s collective capabilities and an expression of our aspirations for the future - a global city with a world of opportunities. The series of events will highlight Singapore as a cosmopolitan society, and a dynamic, well-connected and entrepreneurial economy with tremendous opportunities in the financial, business, technology, social as well as arts and culture arenas.

Singapore 2006 is expected to attract more than 16,000 participants (from IMF and World Bank), including delegates from 184 countries such as heads of government, finance ministers and central bank governors, top financiers, international media, business leaders and other visitors.

IMF - The International Monetary Fund

2006 Annual Meetings Boards of Governors, International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group meets in Singapore from September 19 to September 20, 2006.  The Annual Meetings are preceded by the ministerial-level meetings of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), the IMF's policy-guiding body, and the Development Committee, a joint IMF-World Bank forum.

Key themes for the 2006 Program of Seminars (PoS) include:

• Asia Rising: Myths & Realities
• Capital Markets and the Financial Sector in the Emerging Markets
• Corruption, Governance and Growth
• Infrastructure for the 21st Century
• Why Investment Climate Matters
• Trade & Investment
• Energy & Security
• Growth & Equity
• Regional Economic and Financial Integration
• Innovation & Technology

About IMF

The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank were both conceived at an international conference convened in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, U.S.A. in July 1944. They share the common goal of raising living standards in their member countries, with each institution taking a complementary approach to country assistance: the IMF focuses on ensuring the stability of the international financial system, while the World Bank concentrates on long-term economic development and poverty reduction.

The IMF promotes international monetary cooperation and provides policy advice and technical assistance to help countries build and maintain strong economies. The Fund also makes loans and helps countries devise policy programs to solve balance of payments problems-that is, situations where sufficient financing on affordable terms cannot be obtained to meet net international payments. IMF loans are relatively short-term, and funded mainly by the pool of quota contributions provided by its members. IMF staff are primarily economists with wide experience in macroeconomic and financial policies.

The World Bank Group promotes long-term economic development and poverty reduction by providing technical and financial support to help countries reform particular sectors or implement specific projects-for example, building schools and health centers, providing water and electricity, fighting disease, and protecting the environment. World Bank assistance is generally long-term, and is funded both by member country contributions and through bond issuance. World Bank staff are often specialists in particular issues, sectors, or techniques.