India, New Zealand cozy up as trade talks heat up
India’s commerce minister expressed confidence about expanding economic cooperation between his country and New Zealand during a visit to Auckland, where he met with business leaders and community members. Piyush Goyal praised the Indian diaspora for strengthening ties between the nations and thanked Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for attending a gathering at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre on Wednesday.
Luxon said his government supports India’s trajectory toward becoming the world’s third-largest economy and described people of Indian origin as connections that reinforce bilateral bonds. Goyal led the largest business delegation from India to visit New Zealand, where executives discussed opportunities in agriculture, food processing, forestry, technology and innovation. The minister credited policies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, such as Production Linked Incentive programs and the Startup India effort, for helping companies expand internationally.
Regarding trade agreement negotiations between the countries, Goyal said talks continue with both sides committed to reaching balanced results. He noted New Zealand can access India’s expanding market while India benefits from technological capabilities and specialized knowledge.
