Trade Minister Todd McClay has reaffirmed New Zealand government’s commitment to signing a Free Trade Agreement with India.
“India is a priority for me.
“I have been engaged in talks with the former Minister for Trade of India, and we both have agreed to put more personal political effort into the ongoing negotiations.
“Now I am very hopeful that in the next three years of National government we would be able to deliver the agreement with India,” Minister affirmed.
The Minister was speaking at a business event hosted by India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) in Pullman Hotel, Auckland, on Thursday, September 7.
INZBC is the premier trade organization in New Zealand working for over 25 years to build trade relations between India and New Zealand.
Earlier in the week, The Minister had visited The Indian Weekender studio and spoken about his intent to signing a quality trade deal with India.
“We have modernised our trade strategy for the next 10 to 15 years and announced Trade Agenda 2030 earlier this year.
“We have set up an ambitious goal of having free trade agreements cover 90 per cent of New Zealand’s goods exports by 2030, up from 53 per cent today.
“That means we have to complete the trade agreement with India because India is a big and fast growing market,” Minister McClay said.
“There is a good opportunity there, and India should not view New Zealand economy as a threat.
“We have a lot of things that Indian economy wants.
“The probability that New Zealand economy can impact agricultural production in India is zero.
