Singapore ranks first in SEA as top-performing market for business environment

It places 11th globally.

Singapore is the highest Southeast Asian market for Business Environment in the Savills 2026 Nearshoring Index, ranking 11th globally.

The country is underpinned by its strengths in logistics infrastructure, trade facilitation and ease of doing business.

According to the Index, Singapore’s leading Business Environment score is driven by its strong performance in the Logistics Performance Index, absence of trade barriers and broader global competitiveness, reinforcing its position as a regional hub for trade, logistics and business operations.

Across the Asia Pacific, different markets demonstrate distinct competitive advantages. Japan and Taiwan rank amongst the region's top performers due to their balanced performance across multiple pillars, while China and Vietnam continue to benefit from strong cost competitiveness and manufacturing scale.

Singapore's strength lies in its business environment, reflecting its role as a regional hub for trade, logistics and supply chain management.

Alan Cheong, Executive Director, Research & Consultancy, Savills Singapore, said that whilst US tariffs have hit the region hard, Singapore's logistics space fulfils a different function, serving the region and Australia.

“In this regard, efficient ramp-up logistics and temperature-controlled spaces remain in demand. Given that the supply of land for logistics and industrial development is largely controlled by the authorities, the risk of a significant oversupply situation remains low,” Cheong said.

Meanwhile, Singapore ranked second globally in StartupBlink’s Innovators Business Environment Index 2026, placing it amongst the world’s strongest business environments for innovators and founders.

The firm also placed Singapore first in Asia Pacific, ahead of Japan and New Zealand.

StartupBlink said Singapore’s performance was consistent with its broader startup momentum, noting that the city-state ranked fourth worldwide in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025