New Zealand’s prime minister pitched his country as a safe haven in an unstable world as he opened an Investor Summit aimed at attracting foreign capital.

“New Zealand has been and will continue to be a poster child for social and political stability in a more volatile and challenging world,” Christopher Luxon told delegates at the outset of the two-day summit on Thursday in Auckland. “That reputation is long-standing, but in challenging times it has come into sharper focus.”

Luxon’s center-right government wants more foreign direct investment to boost economic growth ahead of a 2026 election. It is cutting red tape and speeding consents for major projects, from transport and energy infrastructure to housing and mining.

Luxon didn’t mention U.S. President Donald Trump — a mistake that saw a senior New Zealand diplomat lose his job last week — or his imposition of tariffs, but said free trade was essential to New Zealand’s economic success.

“We consistently advocate for a rules-based international order that allows small countries like New Zealand to thrive,” Luxon said. “Free trade isn’t just an idea in New Zealand; it’s the bedrock of our prosperity.”

He also hailed New Zealand’s relative political stability.

“When you look at all the tension, volatility and strife in the world today, I think that makes us pretty special, and a very attractive destination for anyone looking to take shelter from the global storm,” he said.

The government said around 100 delegates from New Zealand and abroad are attending the summit, including the Ministry of Investment for the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong’s CK Infrastructure Holdings and U.S. investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners, which is owned by BlackRock.

Luxon said New Zealand’s economy was at the beginning of a cyclical recovery, with inflation contained and economic growth set to gather pace.