Singapore will be hosting the World Stamp Championship to be held under the auspices of the Internationale de Philatelie (FIP) from 28 August to 1 September 2004. Making the event even more significant, the year 2004 will also mark the 150th year since the first use of first postage stamp in Singapore in 1854!

In conjuction with the 2004 World Stamp Championship, a series of stamps under the theme, Singapore, A Global City, will be issued.

Under Singapore, A Global City stamp theme, a total of 6 stamps and 15 souvenir sheets will be produced. The entire series will be issued over 18 months from 2002 to 2004 and comprises of 3 series.

Each series carries a sub theme. In each series, there is a set of 2 stamps and 5 souvenir sheets. The sub themes are :-

Leisure & Lifestyle Series issued on 20 November 2002

Communications & Technology Series issued on 21 May 2003

Trade & Industry Series to be issued on 21 April 2004.

Since independence, Singapore has progressed and prospered to become one of the world's major and most competitive trading hub. Through industrial stability, free enterprise and the attraction of multi-nationals and capital to the island, Singapore has succeeded in establishing a diversified economy with world-wide markets.

Being trade-dependent, Singapore has implemented a free trade policy that ensures minimal restrictions on the import and export of goods. Free Trade Zones facilitates the efficient movement of trade and keeps the cost of trading in Singapore down, making it attractive for business and foreign investors.

To ensure continued economic success, the Singapore economy continues to restructure itself in order to promote high-value added, technologically based industries and quality services, through education and skills training.

This third and final set of stamps in the "Singapore, A Global City" series reflects the theme of Singapore's "Trade & Industry". Five souvenir sheets feature five specially selected global companies, namely American Insurance Association (AIA), GlaxoSmithKline, HongKong and Shanghai Bank (HSBC), Shell and Sony.