India-New Zealand relations

• India and New Zealand are looking to increase collaboration in goods and services sectors like pharmaceuticals, digital trade, and cross-border payment systems to promote bilateral trade.

• Issues to promote trade through these collaborations were discussed during the recent visit of Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal to New Zealand.

• The commerce ministry said that huge potential is there in both economies to further promote bilateral trade.

• The meetings reviewed progress on market access issues, economic cooperation projects and explored opportunities for new initiatives.

• Both sides discussed the establishment of robust bilateral economic dialogue architecture and the creation of working groups in sectors like agriculture, food processing, storage and transportation, forestry and pharmaceuticals to facilitate ongoing collaboration on key trade and economic issues.

• Deliberations also included increasing cooperation in kiwi fruit as well as the dairy sector.

India-New Zealand relations

• Indians started arriving in New Zealand in the late 18th century on British East India Company ships, bringing supplies to Australian convict settlements. Most of the initial immigrants were from Gujarat followed by Punjab. In 1920, they formed the Auckland Indian Association, which celebrated its centenary in 2020.

• India and New Zealand have historically shared close and cordial ties. Similarities such as membership of the Commonwealth, common law practices and pursuing shared aspirations of achieving economic development and prosperity through democratic governance systems for diverse communities in both countries provide an excellent backdrop for deepening the friendly ties.

• Both countries became independent in the same year and diplomatic representation of India was established in 1950 with the opening of a Trade Commission, which was later upgraded to High Commission. 

• New Zealand identified India as a priority country in its “Opening Doors to India” policy notified in October 2011, which was reiterated in 2015. 

• Education and tourism are New Zealand’s growth sectors with India. Indian students are the second largest source of international students for New Zealand. 

• India is New Zealand’s 15th largest two-way trading partner with total two-way trade valued at $1.56 billion during the year ending June 2023.

• India primarily imports logs and forestry products, wood pulp, wool and edible fruit & nuts from New Zealand. Indian exports to New Zealand  mostly are pharmaceuticals/medications, precious metals and gems, textiles and motor vehicles and non-knitted apparel and accessories.

• Both sides are committed to work towards a high-quality, comprehensive and balanced bilateral free trade agreement, which is being negotiated since 2010.

• India-NZ Business Council (INZBC) and India-NZ Trade Alliance (INZTA) are the two prominent organizations working to promote India-NZ trade and investment relations. 

• Founded in 1988 and based in Auckland, INZBC lobbies with the government, disseminates information through its publications and facilitates business development by leveraging networks. 

• INZTA was founded in 2015 and offers a range of services to companies seeking to enter markets in both countries and liaises with all major business chambers of India.

• In the last decade, most of the new immigrants came as students and settled down in jobs and professions after completing their education and as per the 2018 census, number about 2,50,000, making 5 per cent of NZ’s total population. Hindi is the fifth most spoken language in New Zealand.

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