Why Singapore is key to our trade resilience

PremiumOpinionOpinion byFelicity RoxburghNZ Herald·27 Jul, 2026 03:00 AM4 mins to readFelicity Roxburgh is Executive Director of the New Zealand International Business ForumSingapore’s importance extends beyond its six million consumers. It is one of the world’s most connected economies and a gateway to Southeast Asia’s 700 million people. Photo / NCLWhen the inaugural Singapore–New Zealand Leadership Forum convened in Singapore in May, conflict in the Middle East was dominating international headlines. Energy markets were rattled and global shipping routes once again faced uncertainty.

For a trading nation like New Zealand, whose prosperity depends on international trade, it was another stark