Would you like to grow and expand your business? New Zealand and Singapore – Kiwis and the Lion City go a long ways back together. Singapore is the Lion City of Asia, and that explains why it’s a powerhouse in the ASEAN region. Kiwis can invest and prosper their business in the Lion City for the following reasons:
* Singapore is a highly-developed economy.
* Enjoys an open and corrupt-free environment
* It’s an economy with stable prices.
* Singapore has a high per capita GDP.
* It’s one of the leading business centers globally.
* The Lion City is an attractive destination for international investors.
* It has a robust monetary policy, leading to stability.
* Singapore’s legal and regulatory framework is stable.
* Its government is transparent and efficient.
* Singapore’s anti-corruption laws are water-tight.
Let me beef up my story about why Singapore is a great investment for Kiwi businesses.

New Zealanders Find Happiness and Prosperity in Singapore

1. Living Environment

One thing you’ll notice when you get to Singapore is that its living standards are top-notch. Accommodation-wise, as an ex-pat, you can rent high-rise condos or apartments in excellent condition. What’s more, you can find time to relax and refresh at brilliant onsite workout facilities and pools around the residence.
Your transition will be smooth sailing; English is one of the many languages in Singapore. As a result, you won’t feel lost and alone—also, talk of a rich culture. The nation is a melting pot of local and overseas nationalities with diverse cultures. It’s definitely a place to be.
As a New Zealander planning to invest in Singapore, you can have peace of mind knowing that living standards are high in the country. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) also agrees with this as its “2010 Expat Experience Report” puts Singapore at No. 12 for ex-pat life experience.
Also, HSBC’s “2010 Expat Economics Report” ranks Lion City No. 4 globally for the expat’s financial quality of life.
Employment Conditions Abroad International’s (ECA) “2010 Location Ratings System,” says that Singapore is the best location for Asians to live.
Singapore is also the best country to work in Asia for foreign talent, says the IMD in its “2010 World Competitiveness Yearbook.”
What does all this mean to you? You can find a high standard of accommodation in Singapore.

2. Finding Kiwi Friends in Singapore

In a new country, you need people to connect with, spend some time with, and share some joys and challenges of being an ex-pat. Singapore has many community groups to help you link up with like-minded people. For example, you can be part of a Facebook group catering to Kiwis or an online community network like InterNations, provided they meet your needs and are safe for you. It’s critical to do your research into a social group to join.
In addition, there are popular places ex-pats choose for accommodation, such as Orchard, Tanglin, Holland Village, Bukit Timah, and more. You can make friends in these places.

3. Kiwis Can Find Love in Singapore

Single and looking to have a soul mate in Singapore? It’s doable. You can join a bona fide dating site that can match you with the love of your dreams. Some dating sites provide professional and personalized matchmaking services for highly-educated folks, for example.
If you need a premium service, you can find sites charging their clients a fee a month. On these online sites, you can create a personal profile highlighting the kind of people you want to hook up with. Other dating sites like IT’s JUST LUNCH make it easy for you to find dates sharing your interests and meeting your needs. So, yes, in Singapore, a Kiwi can join other lovebirds.

4. International Schools in Singapore

Should you happen to have kids in Singapore, you can enroll them at the Australian International School (AIS). It’s a well-known school with excellent academic achievements, offering a strong curriculum. Your kids will find it easy to blend with others as English is the key medium of learning.
Your children won’t notice the difference between Kiwi schools and AIS because AIS offers a typical Western curriculum. On its website, it says that it caters to students aged two months until 18 years. For example, AIS has a curriculum for 6 to 8-year-olds; Cambridge IGSCE for 9 to 10-year-olds; and the Higher School Certificate for older children from 11 to 12 graduate with an International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Apart from AIS, there are two international schools. For example, Dover Court International school with a British-oriented curriculum. Another is Nexus International school, offering a British curriculum.

5. Great New Zealand Food in Singapore

When it comes to tasty and real Kiwi food, Singapore won’t let you down. You can find restaurants dotted around busy and even quiet places with great food for your enjoyment.
The Exchange serves a Western-oriented cuisine and, as a result, Kiwis can find something delicious there. The eatery is located in Asan Square Tower One, Mariva View.
Another eating house you might try is Blackbird Cafe, which brings NZ coffee heritage to Singapore. Located on Handy Road, the cafe offers the Kiwi burger, Nana’s lagane, Havana coffee, the New Zhephered pie, NZ marmite Soldiers and Kapiti, Ice cream Kiwi wines, and more.
You might also visit the Barker Cook on Hillcrest Road, owned by a New Zealander, including the head baker. It offers various jams, cookies, chutneys, cakes, cooked breakfast, dinner, and even lunch. In addition, you can enjoy other NZ-inspired foods, such as Turkish pie, Allpress coffee, etc.
If you need other NZ products in supermarkets, you could try Vogel Muesli, Tip Top Ice Cream, Charlies Juice, Puhoi Cheese, and Griffin’s Biscuits.
How New Zealanders Can Grow Their Businesses in Singapore
As an aspiring Kiwi investor, you may be wondering whether it’s worth it to invest in Lion City. As Kiwis would say, take a squiz at what I’ll say about Singapore. Here are choice stats, the Kiwi way of saying fantastic, about Singapore-New Zealand (NZ) trade.
* Singapore is NZ’s goliath as a trading partner in the entire southeast Asia region.
* NZ$5,7 billion worth of two-way trade; that’s choice! It shows that business is booming between the two nations.
* $5,6 billion worth of two-way direct investment as of year-end, 2019.
These encouraging trade stats show that there’s a long pipeline of business opportunities for smart Kiwi business people. Things are happening between the two nations. Because of this, your business would do well to invest in Singapore.

6. Robust Trading Partner with New Zealand

On 7 November 2000, New Zealand announced that it’d sign a Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) with Singapore on 14 November. CEP would help NZ, particularly business people, to invest in Singapore and benefit in these ways.
* Encourage trade in goods and services.
* Promote investment
* Create jobs specifically in service industries
* Boost economic development
* Remove all tariffs on goods and services
* Reduce costs for meeting export rules in Singapore
In the following year, in 2001, the CEP agreement rolled into action, meaning that you now have good reasons below to invest in Lion City.
* Businesses in both countries can trade duty-free products as long as they meet the Rules of Origin.
* Investors or business people can access Singapore’s services, including environmental services, engineering, telecommunications, finance, and education.
* NZ companies can buy Singapore services with ease, such as transport, engineering, computing, dental, and other business services.
* Business visitors or investors would now enter Singapore with few restrictions, including corporate staff. It’d be easy for foreign companies to import highly skilled workers from overseas.
* NZ investors or businesses can now compete with Singapore local companies for government contracts in a fair manner.
In a nutshell, the Singapore-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a bonus for Kiwi investors because it removes all tariffs, making their products competitive. In addition, business visitors and their corporate employees can hit the ground running as Singapore has relaxed visa requirements.

7. Openness to Trade

Singapore is an open economy, trading with many countries, including the ASEAN market, which Kiwi investors can leverage. Furthermore, according to the 2010 Global Enabling Trade Report, Lion City is the No. 1 economy open to trade for these reasons:
* Open trade policy
* Low trade barriers
* Top-notch border administration
* Robust infrastructure

8. Global Competitiveness

A “2015 Index of Economic Freedom” by the Heritage Foundations concluded that Singapore is the 2nd freest nation among 178 countries owing to:
* Trade freedom
* Investment freedom
* Business freedom
* Freedom from corruption
* Labor freedom and property rights

9. Robust Financial and Technical Infrastructure

When it comes to fintech, Singapore is one of the top countries encouraging fintech start-ups to work alongside traditional banks. Further, there are various financial services available for New Zealand businesses, including:
* Traditional banking
* Capital markets
* Wealth and asset management
* Insurance
* Equity and bonds
* Foreign exchange and derivative markets

10. The Business Environment

As one of the world’s competitive economies, Lion City makes it easy for Kiwis or foreigners to set up a business without any restrictions. Registration for your new company is straightforward and takes a short time. Here are some companies you can register in Singapore:

A. Subsidiary Company

It’s the type of business for those looking at starting a private limited company; it’s 100% foreign-owned and is incorporated in Singapore. It could be a small-to-medium-sized business.

B. Branch Office

You already have a company running in your native country and only want to extend its business in Lion City. If this is the case, you should form a branch office, which you must register as an extension of the parent organization. The pro side of this is that you can repatriate the profits after paying tax on income earned in Singapore.

C. Representative Office

A Representative Office lets you test the waters to see if running an operation in Singapore makes business sense. However, this business type doesn’t allow you to operate with profit in mind.
A subsidiary company has 5 typical things it needs to fulfill.
* 1 shareholder
* 1 Resident Director
* 1 Local Company Secretary
* S $1M Paid-Up Capital
You can retain 100% ownership as a foreigner. Another critical issue to note is that you can invest in any of the following hottest verticals:
* Logistics and Transportation
* BioTech
* Enterprise Solutions (manufacturing, warehousing, etc.)
* Prop Tech

11. Grants for Start-ups in Singapore

Besides the super tax reliefs that you can enjoy in Singapore, other brilliant programs for young industries or start-ups. Let’s consider them.
A. Start-up SG Equity
With this scheme, the Singapore government will co-invest in your venture if your business deals with creative, deep technology.
B. Start-up SG Tech
For this program, your start-up needs to show proof-of-concept (POC) and proof-of-value (POV) for innovative technologies that can be commercialized.
C. Start-up SG Founder
As a first-time company with extraordinary ideas, you can get a $30 000 capital grant and mentorship.
D. Start-up SG Accelerators
Singapore has strategic growth sectors, and if your business can incubate and speed up a business idea, you’ll receive support. You’ll benefit from mentoring, nurturing programs, and funding for part of the running expenses.
E. Start-up Talent
It’s a scheme for attracting international talent to start creative businesses in Singapore. On this program, you’ll get an EntrePass and SME Talent Program (STD) for start-ups.

12. Taxes Are Business-friendly

According to the studies below, Singapore leaves businesses with enough income after tax to continue producing goods and services. Here are the stats; they’re choice!
* Singapore is No.4 easiest country globally for paying taxes according to the ‘2011 Paying Taxes Survey” by PWC, IFC, and the World Bank.
* Forbes ranked Singapore No. 11 in its “2009 Tax Misery and Reform Index,” meaning that the nation has a low tax burden.
* KPMG’s recent study found out that Singapore’s 17% corporate tax is the 3rd worldwide, giving companies breathing space.
There are also other great tax incentives for New Zealanders deciding to invest in Singapore. Your business will benefit from the tax scheme, such as:
A. Tax Incentive for R&D, Innovation, and Product Development
Several schemes under this tax break include development and expansion incentives, an investment allowance, a pioneer incentive scheme, etc.
B. Tax Incentives for Shipping and Maritime Industry
It’s a tax relief from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to encourage shipping companies to grow and improve their operations.
C. Tax Incentives for Global Trading
It’s also called the Global Trade Scheme, and it provides a discount rate of 5%-10% for 5-10 years. To benefit from this favorable tax scheme, your business must be involved in transportation, global trade, and procurement of products that qualify.

13. The Workforce

Please check out the stat below about the workforce in Singapore: 47% of the labor force hold diplomas and degrees. It’s a plus for your business because you can find highly-educated and skilled people. As a result, you can have confidence in setting up a business in Singapore.
Another merit is that English is the chief language for business, making it easy for Kiwi investors to operate their businesses. One more pro is that Singapore workers are known for being dedicated and supportive.

14. Huge Mobile and Online Penetration

Here’s another great stat about internet access through mobile devices in Singapore: In 2018, 82% of the Singapore population accessed the internet via their phones. The good news for businesses is that the number will balloon to about 84% in 2025, creating endless possibilities for digital marketing. Your business can leverage these online opportunities through aggressive eCommerce.

15. Intellectual Property Protection (IPP)

According to the World Bank, Singapore is No. 4 in protecting minority investors and No. 2 in ensuring that contracts are followed. Even the Global Competitive Report (GCR) agrees that Singapore is No.2 globally and in Asia as having the best IPP. Another recognition comes from the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Report (2011) and the Intellectual Rights Index (2012) that ranked Lion City top.
All these brilliant stats prove that Singapore should be your first port of call when it comes to investment.

Conclusion: Singapore and New Zealand Business belong together

Investing in Lion City makes business sense for any smart Kiwi investor because you’ll benefit from the Free Trade Agreement, a robust and corrupt-free economy, tax incentives, and more. Now it’s time to head off to Singapore.