(Commonwealth_India) India and New Zealand are taking meaningful steps to deepen their economic relationship, as Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal leads one of India’s largest-ever business delegations to the country. Negotiators from both sides are meeting in Auckland for the fourth round of talks on a potential Free Trade Agreement, which could lead to new opportunities in trade, technology, and investment.
During his visit, Goyal has been busy strengthening ties across multiple fronts. Speaking at the India–New Zealand CEOs Roundtable in Rotorua alongside his counterpart, Trade Minister Todd McClay, he described India’s rapidly changing economy and the possibilities that come with closer collaboration in areas like clean energy, agriculture, education, and sustainability. “India’s economic landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace,” Goyal said, urging New Zealand businesses to take a more active role in what he called a partnership of “shared growth and innovation.”
He also met New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to advancing trade and investment ties. Luxon called India “a country of huge importance to New Zealand’s prosperity, security, and society,” expressing confidence that the two nations are moving closer to a deal that benefits both sides.
Goyal’s trip has been marked not just by high-level meetings but by cultural warmth and symbolism. In Rotorua, he was welcomed with a traditional Māori ceremony at Te Puia after meeting Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell, an experience he described as “a gesture of peace, harmony, and mutual growth.” He presented his hosts with an idol of Kamdhenu, the sacred cow, symbolising prosperity and friendship— a token meant to represent enduring goodwill between the two countries.
At the India–New Zealand Business Forum in Auckland, Goyal and McClay shared the stage for a fireside chat moderated by Simon Bridges, CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber. Goyal referred to the recent meeting between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Luxon as “a catalyst for renewed cooperation” and said that both countries were now in a strong position to expand ties in fields like maritime trade, forestry, technology, and tourism.
He also noted that this visit represents India’s biggest-ever business delegation to New Zealand, a reflection, he said, of India’s growing confidence on the global stage and of the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat, or a developed India. The FTA talks, he added, are progressing “with mutual respect and a shared commitment to balanced outcomes”, where both countries could benefit from each other’s strengths: New Zealand from India’s vast market, and India from New Zealand’s technological expertise.
At a community event in Auckland, Goyal thanked Prime Minister Luxon for joining in the celebration of India–New Zealand friendship. Addressing members of the Indian diaspora, he said their Janmabhumi (land of birth) connects them to their roots, while their Karambhumi (land of work) gives them a chance to contribute and thrive. “Together, we are creating more successful Kiwi-Bharat stories,” he said, celebrating the achievements of the Indian community that has made New Zealand home.
Luxon, in turn, praised the Indian diaspora for acting as “bridges” that bring the two nations closer together, culturally and economically.
While completing his visit, Goyal linked Indian business leaders for an informal “Tea with Delegation” assembly, where discussions were positioned on increasing cooperation in farming, forestry, technology, and innovation. He applauded Indian entrepreneurs for their inspiration and resilience, calling them crucial drivers of India’s growing impact in the world economy.
For both nations, this appointment has been about more than trade; it’s about common values, shared respect, and a growing sense that India and New Zealand, despite their distance, are ready to engrave the next chapter of their partnership together.
