High Commissioner’s remarks on Exchange of Diplomatic Notes for the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement 

(Beehive, 21st September, 2026) 

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand;  Hon Todd McClay, Minister for Trade & Investment; 

Hon Ministers, and Members of Parliament; 

Captains of Industry and Business Leaders; and 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Today, India and New Zealand formally exchange Diplomatic Notes confirming the completion of our respective domestic legal processes for the implementation of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. This is an important milestone in our bilateral relationship. 

With the completion of these formalities, both the governments have decided that the Agreement will enter into force on 20 October 2026, opening a new chapter in the economic relationship between India and New Zealand. 

Trade and Economic Cooperation is an important pillar of our Strategic Partnership. The FTA provides a framework to significantly expand trade and investment and to create new opportunities for businesses, professionals, entrepreneurs and consumers in both countries. 

India and New Zealand are complementary economies. India brings scale, a large and growing market, a strong manufacturing base, a dynamic services sector and a rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem. New Zealand brings globally recognised strengths in agriculture, food production, technology, education, innovation and high-quality services. The FTA provides us with an opportunity to connect these strengths more closely. 

It will create new opportunities for Indian exports to New Zealand, including in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, engineering products and other sectors. At the same time, New Zealand businesses will gain greater opportunities to participate in India's rapidly growing market. 

I would encourage the business communities of both countries to be ambitious to explore new markets, build partnerships, invest, innovate and create stronger and more resilient supply chains. 

The Agreement should also become a platform for deeper cooperation in areas such as technology, agritech, education, renewable energy, food

processing, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, space and high performance sports. 

India and New Zealand have already demonstrated that our relationship has enormous potential. Our leaders have set an ambition to enhance bilateral trade to NZ$ 7 billion by 2030. The FTA gives us an important instrument to help achieve that ambition. 

I would like to acknowledge the leadership of Hon Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Rt Hon Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Hon Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s Trade & Investment Minister Hon Todd McClay, negotiators, officials and business communities of both countries who have brought us to this important day. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

20 October should not be seen as the destination. It should be seen as the beginning. 

Our shared task now is to translate this Agreement into greater trade, investment, jobs, innovation and prosperity for our two countries. 

Let us make the India–New Zealand FTA a strong economic pillar of our Strategic Partnership. 

Let us make it a partnership not only between governments, but between businesses, institutions and people. 

I am confident that together we can make this new chapter in India–New Zealand relations a remarkable success. 

Thank you. 

****