Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has suggested that New Zealand is on the verge of initiating long-awaited trade negotiations with India.
During his address at the India New Zealand Business Council’s annual event in Auckland, Peters expressed his optimism about enhancing the relationship between the two countries.
“I believe that we are close to announcing the commencement of negotiations on this trade deal,” Peters remarked.
The trade agreement discussions between New Zealand and India commenced in 2010 under the leadership of Sir John Key. Unfortunately, progress came to a halt after five years, leaving the negotiations at a standstill ever since.
Peters acknowledged the necessity of putting in more effort to strengthen ties with India, highlighting the government’s dedication to fostering deeper connections with the largest democracy in the world.
“India has always been a significant partner… When we took office just over a year ago, it became evident that a more focused, determined, and energetic approach was needed,” he stated.
The foreign affairs minister pointed out recent diplomatic achievements, such as his visit to India in March 2024 and New Zealand hosting Indian President Droupadi Murmu in August 2024.
Trade Minister Todd McClay has also been actively engaged, making three visits to India this year and meeting with his Indian counterpart, Piyush Goyal, on three separate occasions abroad.
While business leaders welcomed these advancements, they stressed the importance of concrete results.
“The actions taken by this government align with our expectations, but we require more momentum,” said Bharat Chawla, chair of the India New Zealand Business Council.
“We aim to establish short-term objectives before progressing towards the long-term goal of a free trade agreement. We cannot afford to wait another decade,” Chawla emphasized.
Sunil Kaushal, the council’s general manager, shared similar sentiments, acknowledging the positive aspects of the high-level political visits but urging for more substantial actions.
“New Zealand has made significant progress, and there are promising signs from both the New Zealand and Indian governments,” Kaushal noted.
He underscored the importance of allocating additional resources to expedite the progress, despite the challenges that may arise.
Peters also disclosed plans to strengthen the relationship further by confirming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to India in the first quarter of 2025.
