Progress towards a free trade agreement with India is storming ahead, with confirmation that negotiations will begin in a matter of weeks.Less than two weeks after Trade Minister Tim Groser and Indian Commerce Minister Sri Anand Sharma announced that nego
Progress towards a free trade agreement with India is storming ahead, with confirmation that negotiations will begin in a matter of weeks.
Less than two weeks after Trade Minister Tim Groser and Indian Commerce Minister Sri Anand Sharma announced that negotiations towards a FTA would get underway, an April date has been set for the start of talks.
A FTA agreement has been on the government’s agenda since March last year, with the relevant Indian cabinet committee approving the proposal late last month after India’s mid-year election in 2009 delayed its response.
Indian High Commissioner Sureesh Mehta confirmed the start date of negotiations during an India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) function in Auckland last night that also saw the council launch its Auckland chapter.
It established a Christchurch chapter late last year and the Auckland incarnation will be led by educationalist and INZBC executive committee member Tricia Reade.
INZBC chair Wenceslaus Anthony said the council was aiming to undertake more activities on a regional basis.
“Not only to help further expand our membership base, but also to help raise the New Zealand business community’s awareness across the board of the significance of India to our future economic prosperity.”
India is now New Zealand's second fastest growing export market, with total bilateral trade of about a billion dollars.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise international market manager for India Don Rae said it was a “priority market” for NZTE.
“We see growth continuing well into future. The launch of INZBC’s Auckland Chapter is yet another strong and visible signal of this persistent growth.”
