New Zealand and Singapore government and business representatives gather during the inaugural Singapore–New Zealand Leadership Forum. Pictured (from left) are Amelia Linzey, New Zealand co-convenor of the Singapore–New Zealand Leadership Forum and group chief executive of Beca; Hon. Todd McLay, Minister of Trade; Hon. Nicola Willis, Minister of Finance; Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand; Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Singapore; Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower; and Mark Lee, Singapore co-convenor of the Singapore–New Zealand Leadership Forum and vice chairman of the Singapore Business Federation.
Photo credit: SNZLF.
Beca says the inaugural Singapore–New Zealand Leadership Forum has reinforced growing focus on supply chain resilience, energy security, digital trade and decarbonisation cooperation between the two countries.
The Forum, held in Singapore under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed by prime ministers Christopher Luxon and Lawrence Wong in October 2025, brought together business leaders and government representatives across infrastructure, agri-food, energy, technology, financial services and connectivity sectors.
Amelia Linzey, group chief executive of Beca and New Zealand co-convenor of the Forum, says discussions were centred on practical implementation rather than diplomatic process.
“It has been a serious, practical conversation about what more we can do together and what we should do next,” Linzey says.
“The principles of cooperation between Singapore and New Zealand are fully confirmed and the movement is now towards planning and implementation.”
According to Linzey, recent fuel supply pressures and broader geopolitical instability had sharpened discussion around resilience and long-term infrastructure planning.
“This moment is a clarity shock. It has clarified, with brutal speed, three shared priorities the cooperation arrangement must achieve for New Zealand,” she says.
A major focus of the Forum was resilient supply chains and critical goods, including fuel security and logistics coordination following recent Middle East instability. Delegates also discussed Singapore’s role as a regional trade and logistics hub within the Indo-Pacific.
Discussions around the digital economy focused on artificial intelligence, digital trade and financial technology, including opportunities linked to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement originally established by Singapore and New Zealand in 2020.
The Forum also examined opportunities around clean energy, carbon markets and decarbonisation alignment, including discussion around emissions trading frameworks between the two countries.
For industry, the discussions signal growing emphasis on infrastructure resilience, supply chain visibility, digital capability and regional cooperation as businesses respond to increasingly uncertain global operating conditions.
“There was a clear message that there are practical, achievable steps that could make a real difference if governments and private capital are prepared to act on them,” Linzey says.