India and New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will come into force from tomorrow on the occasion of Vijay Dashami. The agreement will provide duty-free access for 100 per cent of Indian exports to New Zealand.
Addressing the ceremony marking the entry into force of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement in New Delhi today, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the agreement is aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Viksit Bharat 2047. He said, the agreement opens significant new opportunities for India’s exporters, particularly MSMEs, artisans, farmers and pharma. The Minister highlighted that both the countries have agreed to work towards the goal of doubling bilateral trade in goods and services with New Zealand to approximately 35 thousand crore rupees by 2030.
Mr Goyal said that India’s farmers will gain wider market access for fruits, vegetables, spices and other agricultural produce. He said, the agreement will help improve productivity, support higher incomes and strengthen livelihoods. The Minister highlighted that sensitive sectors, including dairy, remain protected, keeping farmers’ welfare at the heart of the government’s approach.
The Minister said that New Zealand’s commitment to facilitate 20 billion US dollars in investment into India holds immense potential to strengthen manufacturing, infrastructure, services and innovation. Mr Goyal said, this agreement will also create employment opportunities. He expressed confidence that this win-win partnership will achieve many more milestones, guided by the shared vision of growth and mutual prosperity between the two nations.
The FTA between India and New Zealand was signed in April this year at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The Agreement will create new opportunities in services, investment and professional, student and youth mobility, including enhanced pathways for Indian professionals and students. India and New Zealand share longstanding and close relations, anchored in strong people-to-people ties and expanding cooperation across trade and investment, agriculture, education, sports, technology and other areas. The Bilateral merchandise trade between India and New Zealand stood at around 1.1 billion US dollars in 2025-26. The FTA represents a significant step in further strengthening these ties and creating new opportunities for businesses and communities in both countries.
On the occasion, the first-ever export of a JCB machine from India to New Zealand was flagged off by the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal. Flag-offs of a range of products across the agriculture, gems and jewellery, engineering, sporting goods, footwear and leather sectors are also planned for the entry-into-force day. These initiatives reflect the confidence of Indian manufacturers and the opportunities the Agreement opens up for exporters across the country.
