India and New Zealand working on a comprehensive, mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement: Piyush Goyal

India and New Zealand are working to finalize a comprehensive and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement. Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, said this while addressing the CEOs of India and New Zealand in New Delhi today. 

The two countries had announced the launch of negotiations for an FTA earlier this week. The event today was attended by the Right Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, Todd McClay, New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment, Agriculture and Forestry, business leaders and senior officers of the two countries.

Addressing the business leaders, Goyal emphasized the immense potential for collaboration between the two countries. 

He articulated an ambitious vision for the India-New Zealand partnership, targeting 10x growth in bilateral trade over the next decade.

Prime Minister of New Zealand, The Right Christopher Luxon, while addressing the forum, stated that businesses play a critical role in both economies and in strengthening bilateral relations. 

The Prime Minister further emphasized the need to explore new frontiers and sectors where New Zealand holds a competitive advantage. 

“I feel incredibly optimistic about the future of both India and New Zealand. India for us is a game changer. As a smaller country in the world, India is a really consequential relationship for us. We all recognize that there is a lot more that these two countries should be doing together. When we look at the trading relationship today at $3 billion, there's a huge opportunity for us here,” he added.

The Commerce Minister called on business leaders from both countries to contribute towards achieving this goal. 

“There are hardly any areas where we compete with each other, and the few areas of sensitivity can be navigated with mutual respect. Given our different levels of development, there are limitless possibilities for cooperation in agri-tech, dairy, food processing, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, critical minerals, forestry, horticulture, tourism, and sports,” he said.

Discussing global challenges, Goyal emphasized the importance of trusted partnerships. 

“The world is going through a lot of problems. A defining partnership between our two nations can serve as a model for how trusted partners work together. It’s not about the size of an economy; it’s about collaboration and shared values,” he said. He noted that India’s economy, currently at $4 trillion, is poised to grow to $30-35 trillion in the next 22-25 years, presenting immense opportunities for collaboration.

Goyal highlighted the role of tourism in fostering stronger relations between India and New Zealand. He praised the Prime Minister of New Zealand for his commitment to enhancing ties between the two nations and noted that their partnership could create significant economic opportunities. “Together, we can make a significant difference to our economies. Both countries will emerge as winners through this partnership,” he stated.