Strengthening New Zealand’s political and business ties with India is the focus of Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters’ and Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker’s visit to India this week.

The Ministers are co-leading a high level business delegation to India to support increased people and economic engagement with the world’s 5th biggest economy.

“This Government is seriously committed to strengthening New Zealand’s relationship with India,” said Peters.

“We will be discussing how both countries can work together on global and regional issues, and towards potential trade and economic opportunities.”

Both Ministers will meet a number of counterparts while in New Delhi, including External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Minister of Industry and Commerce, Piyush Goyal.

The business delegation includes senior business people representing a cross-section of New Zealand’s trade relationship with India. This includes companies working on premium food and beverage and primary production, advanced solutions for India’s aviation and manufacturing sectors, and ICT, tech and services offerings.

“Our delegates reflect the range and ingenuity of New Zealand’s business, and the potential for closer commercial links between our two countries,” Parker said.

“We share the wish to see New Zealand and India’s relationship thrive and deliver greater prosperity and security to both countries.”

The Ministers are travelling between 25-29 February, and are visiting New Delhi and Mumbai.

India is New Zealand’s 13th largest two-way trading partner, with significant potential for growth and market diversification for New Zealand across both services and goods. India provides the second highest number of international students to New Zealand, while the number of tourist visitors continues to grow.

– TIN Bureau

India trip starts on a high note

India Mission 2020 started on Tuesday at New Delhi with homage paid to the Father of Indian nation Mahatma Gandhi. Rt Hon Winston Peters and Hon David Parker laid wreaths at Gandhi memorial to kick off NZ Ministerial Trade delegation to India.

Tony Martin, Regional Director, NZTE and Ralph Hayes, Trade Commissioner South Asia, NZTE provided a brief of the mission to the delegates. Delegates come from a range of Industries starting with Aviation and on to F & B and onwards to Forestry. Industries represented both goods and services exporters.

Bharat Joshi, Author of “Navigating India, $18 trillion opportunity” provided an overview of the huge opportunity that India is. Bharat outlined the economic environment and stressed on how India has jumped up the ladder (from 140 to 77) in Ease of doing business Index. The conditions on the ground are changing and despite challenges, small steps are being taken to reform the economy by what he called “Cumulative incrementalism”.

He provided an example of how Suzuki invested in India before trading and that is becoming a successful strategy for many global corporates. Disruption in supply chains due to Corona Virus is forcing global companies to review and rethink and India can provide diversity in supply chains.

Hon David Parker addressed the delegates stressing that NZ and some like minded countries had not given up on India when it came to RCEP. He also said that gains made through RCEP can help in bilateral treaties.

Rt Hon Winston Peters said that India has got complexity and government needs to put resources and work harder for a good outcome. He also said that NZ must target opportunities outside such constraints.

The day ended with a networking reception at the residence of Grahame Morton, Acting High commissioner to India. High commission staff in India provided the audience with a Maori and an Indian welcome.

The event was attended by the trade delegation and guests, which included Amitabh Kant, CEO of Niti Aayog and other business leaders. – Surinder Ogra