Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay today announced New Zealand and India have formally launched negotiations on a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.
Mr McClay held extensive discussions with his Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal in New Delhi today, where they agreed to launch negotiations.
“This announcement is a major breakthrough in the economic relationship between India and New Zealand,” said Luxon.
“When we came into Government 16 months ago, we made it clear that closer economic ties with India was a key priority.
“Currently the fifth-largest economy in the world, with a population of 1.4 billion people, India holds significant potential for New Zealand and will play a pivotal role in doubling New Zealand’s exports by value over the next ten years.
“This announcement comes off the back of a major lift in political engagement with India. Todd McClay has visited five times and had eight meetings with his Indian counterpart. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has also visited, and I had a highly productive meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.
A Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement is only one part of the Government’s commitment to stepping up all facets of the New Zealand-India relationship.
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says alongside trade agreement negotiations, New Zealand will continue to invest in stronger, deeper, more sustainable connections with India across all pillars of the relationship, including our political, defence and security, sporting, environmental, and people-to-people connections.
“One in four Kiwi jobs rely on trade and last year our export revenue added $100 billion to the economy. Strong agreements and relationships like this ensure every New Zealander has good job opportunities, higher wages and access to world-class public services,” said McClay.
Negotiations will start next month.
The Indian community is the third-largest ethnic group in New Zealand, India is our largest source of skilled migrants, and our second largest source of international students.
In short, Indian-Kiwis make a massive contribution to New Zealand and I’m proud of what this… pic.twitter.com/Dnwf8gNUMw
— Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) March 17, 2025
If I can buy my curry cheaper I’m all onboard with that
A government is supposed to safeguard the interests of IT’S OWN populace first and foremost. For all the flak he gets over tarrifs, Trump seems to be the only leader who understands (or still cares about) that principle.
Free trade agreements and other backroom globalist deals are an abdication of duty, and arguably treasonous. They are conducted for the benefit of establishment elites, not the citizens of EITHER side.