- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will visit Singapore and Japan from April 18 to 24
- This is her first diplomatic tour since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
- She will be accompanied by New Zealand business leaders
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced her first diplomatic tour since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, accompanied by a trade mission of businesses leaders to Singapore and Japan later this month. The Prime Minister and her accompanying delegation will depart New Zealand on April 18 and return on April 24.
This first trade mission is an important milestone for the New Zealand Government’s Trade Recovery Strategy as it looks to accelerate the country’s strong economic recovery by reconnecting to the world, with Singapore recognized as one of its closest and most important strategic economic partners.
Business leaders joining the trade mission span dairy, food and beverage, healthcare, aviation, tourism, supply chain and energy, and represent New Zealand’s commitment to sustainable growth and innovation in South-east Asia.
For many delegates, the mission will be their first time meeting their in-market partners face-to-face since the start of the pandemic, and they are using the opportunity to ink partnerships and Memorandums of Understanding that strengthen bilateral collaboration and innovation.
Ardern will meet Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Singapore and also make a call to President Halimah Yacob. She will talk to entrepreneurs and business leaders as part of a gala dinner hosted by New Zealand.
In Japan, Ardern will for the first time meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who took office in October 2021. She will also talk to the Japan-New Zealand Business Council, and meet business and industry leaders, including those in clean energy and technology.
The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Damien O’Connor, Minister for Trade and Export Growth.
Trade Commissioner at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in Singapore, Maggie Christie, will host the Prime Minister and delegates.
“We are delighted to be hosting the Prime Minister on her first official overseas engagement since the start of the pandemic and, through this trade mission, we look forward to deepening and broadening our collaborative partnerships with Singapore across sectors that are of strategic importance to New Zealand. NZTE is delighted to welcome such a diverse and innovative group of companies to Singapore that showcase the very best of New Zealand as we advance our economic recovery.”
New Zealand companies visiting Singapore as part of the trade mission include Fonterra, ANZCO, Zespri International, Beca Group, GNS Science, Auckland Airport, Christchurch Airport, Food Innovation Network (FoodBowl), The Clinician, Plant & Food Research, Beca, Wakatū/AuOra, Cogo and the New Zealand Hydrogen Council.
