Singapore to go the extra smile for IMF summit

SINGAPORE, June 12 (Reuters) Singapore plans to greet delegates of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings it will host in September with four million smiles.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called on Singaporeans and foreigners living in the wealthy city state of 4.4 million to submit a photograph of themselves smiling.

The photos, which can be sent to a government website (www.smileS2006.com) or via mobile phone messaging, will then be collated into a digital mural to welcome September's visitors.

''We should make a special effort to welcome all the delegates to this event. We should greet them literally with four million smiles,'' Mr Lee said in a speech on Sunday.

Mr Lee also urged Singaporeans in the service industry, from taxi drivers to sales assistants and staff at restaurants, to ''go the extra mile'' to the meetings' delegates.

Some 16,000 delegates and visitors are expected for the meetings, making it the largest event Singapore has ever hosted.

Known for micro-managing its population, Singapore frequently rolls out national campaigns aimed at moulding social behaviour.

Past drives have urged citizens to be punctual, courteous on the road and have more babies.

REUTERS MA RAI0913