Apple celebrates its 40th anniversary in Singapore: a fruitful partnership in education, app economy and more

On July 22, Apple celebrated its 40th anniversary in Singapore. In an appreciation article, the company detailed the transition of its manufacturing partnership with the country into a deep-rooted relationship focused on bringing meaningful changes in Singapore’s educational system, job creation, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

In 1981, Apple’s first office opened in Singapore with 72 employees, focusing on Apple II manufacturing. Today, the country has become “Apple’s base for Asia Pacific operations and a globally recognized center of innovation and expertise as the country embraces a high-tech vision for the future.”

Apple and Singapore are changing the country’s now for the future

In these four decades, the partnership has been mutually beneficial. Here is how the two partners are creating a meaningful change in the country.

• Diverse Apple Team and thriving iOS app economy: The company has over 3500 employees, representing over 50 nationalities. Cupertino tech company has created  55,000 jobs in the country including its iOS app economy supporting developers of Butter Royale and LumiHealth.
  • Developed by Mighty Bear Games, the team behind Butter Royale has grown from four members in 2016 to 53 members today. “Butter Royale” has been consistently ranked in the top 20 Apple Arcade games globally, and it’s one of the many independent developers out of Singapore attracting international attention.
  • In partnership with Singapore’s world-class healthcare system, the company launched LumiHealth, “a personalized program to encourage healthy activity and behaviors using Apple Watch and iPhone” to promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

• Five Apple Distinguished Schools in Singapore: To enable future generations to innovate, and express their creativity and teach others, the company has partnered with educational institutions throughout the country to incorporate Swift coding in their curriculum. Amongst the schools is Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah, Singapore’s oldest Islamic education institution for girls. Its principal, Syed Mustafa Alsagoff said

“Over a decade ago, we saw the potential of technology for learning and took a big leap to bring iPad into the classroom, so we are very happy to be counted as an Apple Distinguished School. Apple shares the same vision of nurturing innovation and creativity, which has inspired us to continue challenging the traditional ways of learning in a classroom as we educate the next wave of women leaders.”

• Sustainable future: Starting its environmental sustainability journey in 2015, the Cupertino tech giant partnered with Sunseap, a local energy company to power four of Apple’s sites and three retail stores on 100% solar energy. Frank Phuan, Sunseap’s co-founder and CEO said:

“Apple was one of the first major companies in Singapore to partner with Sunseap in our quest to get businesses to tap solar energy for a sustainable future. We are ever grateful to Apple for showing the way forward — their shining example helped speed up adoption across the country and raised awareness in the region of the urgency of mitigating climate change with renewable energy sources.”

With flash floods causing destruction in Western Europe, Germany and China because of unprecedented rain, there is no need for Apple-like global environmental sustainability projects to mitigate the impact of climate change. Read the complete article here.