INDIA–NEW ZEALAND FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA)

NEWS: India–New Zealand FTA has entered into force to boost bilateral trade, investment, services + people-to-people ties.

KEY TRADE OPPORTUNITIES

  • Merchandise Trade: Current bilateral trade around $1.2 billion.
  • Duty-Free Access: Improved market access for Indian exports.
  • Labour-Intensive Sectors: Apparel, leather, footwear, home textiles + carpets.
  • Manufacturing: Machinery, automobiles + engineering goods.
  • Pharmaceuticals: Reduced regulatory barriers + duplicate inspections.
  • Services: Commitments across 118 sectors, including IT, healthcare, education + finance.

SKILLED PROFESSIONALS

  • Quota of 5,000 visas at any given time.
  • Stay of up to 3 years.
  • Supports student mobility + post-study work opportunities.

INVESTMENT

  • New Zealand to facilitate $20 billion FDI into India over 15 years, as stated in the article.
  • Focus sectors: Renewable energy, agritech, food processing, manufacturing, digital technology + infrastructure.

SIGNIFICANCE

  • Boosts exports + employment generation.
  • Supports MSMEs + labour-intensive industries.
  • Promotes technology transfer + investment.
  • Strengthens India's Indo-Pacific economic engagement
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