Trade Commissioner outlines strategies to deepen commercial collaboration across sectors amid 60 years of diplomatic relations.
Singapore, 2 May 2025 – In a recent exclusive interview with IN Diplomacy as part of its Trade Talk Series, Ms Maggie Christie, Trade Commissioner Singapore at New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE), highlighted the evolving trade landscape between New Zealand and Singapore, underscoring both countries’ mutual commitment to strengthening economic ties.
Q: What are your country’s biggest exports and imports?
Singapore is New Zealand’s 5th largest partner globally for two-way trade, and our 4th largest source of foreign investment. In the year ended December 2024 New Zealand exported NZD$1.75 billion of total goods to Singapore and imported NZD$3.7 billion, a total trade value of NZD$5.45 billion.
Q: How can your country support or encourage exporters to place products on Singaporean (or other international) shelves?
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) is New Zealand’s trade promotional agency with the purpose of “Growing companies internationally – bigger, better, faster – for the good of New Zealand (and Singapore!). In collaboration with other New Zealand government agencies we inform, educate and inspire companies on the opportunities of entering and doing business in Singapore and more broadly into ASEAN. This approach is amplified by our Prime Minister and Ministers who have travelled extensively through Southeast and East Asia with PM/Ministerial Missions and Trade Delegations into Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Malysia, Vietnam and India over the last 18 months. This drives awareness of New Zealand in Asia but also highlights the regional opportunities in New Zealand. In addition, New Zealand has numerous FTAs with Singapore, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement which reduces tariffs and trade barriers, making it easier for exporters to access international markets – during the 2024 Mission a new “Supply Chains and Connectivity” pillar was added to the agreement and negotiations are underway to develop an “Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies.“
Q: What are the current key products traded between New Zealand and Singapore?
Trade between New Zealand and Singapore continues on an upward trajectory. In the year ended 2024, New Zealand’s top exports to Singapore included dairy products valued at NZD$575.1 million, mineral fuels and oils (for refining) at NZD$401.52 million, and travel services worth NZD$278.74 million. On the other hand, Singapore’s main exports to New Zealand comprised mineral fuels and oils (NZD$2.91 billion), transportation-related goods (NZD$1.47 billion), and business services (NZD$1.18 billion).
Q: How does your embassy or trade office support companies looking to enter your market?
Primarily NZTE exists to accelerate exporter growth internationally. We do this by wrapping around the customer with a range of ‘know how’ – resources, market research and experts to help business navigate how to validate, enter and grow in market. With offices in over 37 countries we also use our ‘know who’ to connect companies with the right partner, distributor or expert to grow.
Q: What kinds of foreign products are in demand but underrepresented in your market?
Singapore is a well-educated and affluent country, which understandably means it is highly competitive across all product and service categories. New Zealand continues to capitalise on the Health and Wellness trend, introducing unique supplements, functional food, and nutritious products to improve consumer lifestyle. The aging population also provides opportunities where our medtech products can help with diagnosing health concerns and improving communication and patient outcomes. Wine and meat products have demonstrated robust growth, however, they are still underrepresented compared to competitor countries, representing opportunities where New Zealand can expand its foothold.
Q: What are your country’s goals in diversifying its economy, and how can other countries contribute?
Like Singapore, New Zealand needs to export to grow. With a goal to double the value of our exports by 2028, we are diversifying from commodities to value-added and leveraging our history of ingenuity to create and build world-class products and solutions that are good for business, good for people, and good for the world. This provides an opportunity for other countries and companies to partner with us, working together to solve problems that meet the different needs of different countries. New Zealand is open, trusted, stable, and safe, and one of the best places on earth to do business. With Singapore and New Zealand celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations, there has never been a better time to make tomorrow a better place.
