India and New Zealand Push for Free Trade Agreement

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal traveled to Auckland, New Zealand, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The purpose of his trip was to meet his New Zealand counterpart, Todd McClay, and review the progress of the negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations.

Aiming for a Quick and Beneficial Partnership

Minister Goyal expressed his eagerness for the visit and the talks, noting in a social media post that he was “Delighted to be in New Zealand.” He emphasized that both countries are keen to speed up the process for this new economic partnership. The goal is to establish a comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement that will help both India and New Zealand grow their economies.

Exploring Trade and Investment Opportunities

The Minister’s agenda also included meeting with local industry leaders and investors. This is an effort to explore new areas where India and New Zealand can collaborate and increase investments in each other’s markets. The formal FTA negotiations themselves are progressing, with the fourth round kicking off in Auckland on November 3, 2025, following the official launch of talks back in March 2025.

Trade Relations are Already Growing

Trade between the two countries is already on an upward trend. The total value of goods traded between India and New Zealand reached $1.3 billion in the fiscal year 2024-25, showing a strong growth of nearly 49% compared to the previous year.

What the Countries Trade

India mainly exports items like textiles and clothing, medicines, refined petrol, agricultural machinery (such as tractors), auto parts, and basmati rice to New Zealand. Conversely, India mostly imports various agricultural goods from New Zealand, including apples, kiwifruit, meat products (like lamb), wool, minerals, and timber. The FTA is expected to make this exchange of goods and services even smoother.