ABSTRACT
Constructing or building a cluster generally starts by selecting a cluster core. A cluster core should be relatively primary, in the sense that its location does not depend strongly on the presence of other economic activities. The cluster concept is often used to analyze the economic specialization of a country. The firms concentrated in a cluster are inter-related due to the existing buyer–supplier and knowledge-exchange relationships. Leader firms can be enablers for the internationalization of other firms in the clusters. Clustering involves the interaction of businesses of a similar type, and the consequent fostering of healthy competition, networking and collaboration. The successful development of the Port of Singapore as a trans-shipment hub and the maritime cluster as a whole should be attributed not only to the strategic geographical location but also to the role of the Singapore government. Singapore’s position as a leading international maritime centre is mainly built upon the pro-business framework.
