The government's free market policies, coupled with strict financial controls, created one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Its port became one of the busiest in the world. Singapore became one of Asia's known as "Four Tigers" along with Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan. Because of its sound fiscal policies and diversified trading partners, Singapore was the least affected of all Asian countries during a financial crisis that hit the region in 1997. The unit of currency is the Singapore dollar.