Regardless of race and nationality
Many have turned to dating agencies as a platform to meet more singles. Besides coming to Singapore to live and work, they now are hoping to start a family here.
Read the article below to find out more about this trend.
Single, foreign, and looking for...
More PRs, foreigners join dating agencies here in bid to find love
THEY come here to live and work, and now, more are also hoping to find that special someone in Singapore.
It is a sign, some experts say, that permanent residents (PRs) and foreigners are more willing to integrate themselves into Singapore society.
But, stymied by what they say is the lack of a 'single-friendly' culture here, many are turning to dating agencies to overcome this hurdle.
These foreign singles are mostly professionals and executives from countries such as Malaysia, India, China and the United States. Most of them are in their late 20s to early 40s and are degree holders.
Dating agencies told The Straits Times they have seen an increase of up to 30 per cent in single foreign clients over the past two years.
According to latest figures released by the Department of Statistics, there are 533,200 PRs and 1.25 million foreigners in Singapore as of last year. This is up from the 449,200 PRs and 1 million foreigners in 2007.
In 2008, 6,077 citizens married non-Singaporeans, an increase from 4,566 in 2003.
Professor Chung Wai Keung, who teaches sociology at Singapore Management University and is a foreigner himself, said people who go overseas to work are more likely to be single and thus eager to find companionship if they want to stay in their adoptive countries for the long term.
National University of Singapore sociologist Paulin Straughan sees the rise as a positive indication that PRs and foreigners are integrating into Singapore society.
'When you are willing to consider dating and forging a long-term relationship not from your own race and nationality, it's the ultimate willingness to assimilate,' she said.
For PRs and foreigners, dating agencies are an avenue to meet Singaporeans - a task many say is difficult otherwise, since locals tend to stay within their own social groups and are averse to meeting people via routes common in other countries, such as singles bars and online forums.
'It happens everywhere... locals tend to stick to themselves. You have to be the one to approach, they won't come and talk to you,' said Ms Henny Susanto, an Indonesian expatriate who works in a jewellery business.
Agreeing, Ms Anisa Hassan, managing director of dating agency It's Just Lunch Asia, which has branches in Singapore and Bangkok and 5,000 clients, said many of her foreign clients have told her that Singapore 'is not particularly single-friendly', despite being a cosmopolitan city.
'One needs to 'know people who know people' who can help them penetrate the local social groups and scenes that sometimes tend to be local-centric,' she said.
For Ms Susanto, joining dating agency Drinks At Eight a year ago allowed her to meet local people with similar interests.
The 42-year-old, who has worked here for three years, managed to hit it off with a Singaporean on her third date organised by the matchmaker.
They have been happily dating for six months now.
Other dating agencies say they are not surprised by the trend.
Said Ms Violet Lim, the founding director of Lunch Actually, where foreigners comprise 30 per cent of its 3,000 members: 'At the end of the day, it's an inherent need in anybody to look for love and companionship.'
Among the success stories is that of Ms Loh Aik Mei, 30, a Malaysian with Singapore PR status who met her partner, Mr Daniel Loh, 31, two years ago via The Dating Loft. Last October, they tied the knot.
Ms Loh, who was open to dating Singaporeans and foreigners when she joined the agency, said: 'I find Singaporean guys seldom take initiative, so with these services, I know people who go there already have the intention to find a lifetime partner.'
Source: 1 March 2010, The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Permission required for reproduction.