VOI World/ Desk
India and New Zealand are ramping up strategic economic ties, with discussions extending beyond trade to include aviation, agriculture, technology and cultural exchange. On a visit to New Zealand, Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met senior New Zealand officials, including Trade Minister Todd McClay and CEO of Air New Zealand, Nikhil Ravishankar, to explore enhanced cooperation in aviation and direct flight connectivity.
Mr Goyal co-chaired a CEOs Roundtable in Rotorua alongside McClay, where he urged greater collaborations in clean energy, sustainable agriculture and education, highlighting the Indian-origin community in New Zealand as a bridge between the two economies.
Despite growth in trade—around US $1.75 billion currently—both nations emphasised the importance of a balanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that safeguards sensitive Indian sectors such as dairy and MSMEs.
The visit underscores India’s broader global outreach and reflects a commitment to deeper bilateral engagement through platforms like digital trade, innovation ecosystems and enhanced people-to-people links.
