Auckland finance executive Ajay Kumar says New Zealand should complement its newly signed free trade agreement with India by adopting a targeted, skills-based immigration strategy, arguing that doing so would maximise the long-term economic benefits of the deal.
According to a report by the New Zealand Herald, Kumar, founder and director of Global Finance, believes much of the public debate surrounding Indian migration is based on misconceptions and fails to recognise the country's growing demand for skilled professionals.
He said the free trade agreement should be seen as a strategic partnership that extends well beyond trade.
“New Zealand gains access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets, while India gains access to New Zealand’s products, services and expertise.
“Combined with carefully targeted skilled migration, the agreement has the potential to support stronger economic growth, increased investment and deeper people-to-people connections for both countries over the coming decade, as quoted by New Zealand Herald.
“We have been trying to achieve a trade deal with India for about two decades,” New Zealand Herald has quoted.
Founded in 1999, Global Finance has arranged more than $19 billion in loans, advances and personal risk insurance policies. Kumar said around 90 percent of the firm's clients are of Indian origin, including migrants from India and Fiji, with a further five percent coming from South Asian and Southeast Asian communities.
Reflecting on nearly three decades of working with migrant families and entrepreneurs, Kumar said many have established successful businesses, purchased homes and progressed professionally while integrating into New Zealand society.
“Over the past 27 years in New Zealand, we have worked with thousands of migrant families and business owners as they establish themselves and contribute to New Zealand’s economy,” says Kumar, as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
“Over the last several years, we have observed increasing acceptance and stronger integration of Indian and Fiji Indian communities within wider New Zealand society,” the New Zealand Herald has quoted.
He argued that skilled migrants play a critical role in supporting economic growth and addressing workforce shortages rather than placing pressure on public services.
“If all Indian migrants suddenly left New Zealand, many industries would face significant labour shortages and service disruptions,” he says. “Essential sectors including healthcare, transport, retail, agriculture and small business would be heavily affected, the New Zealand Herald has quoted.
The practical reality is that Indian migrants have helped New Zealand grow its economy, maintain services and address workforce shortages.”
Kumar identified healthcare as one of the sectors where New Zealand's domestic workforce pipeline is unable to meet growing demand. He said the country would continue to rely on internationally trained professionals, particularly from India.
“We can’t produce overnight doctors, nurses, AI engineers or professors in New Zealand,” he says. “We have to import them, and India is one of the few countries that can supply at scale,” as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
He also highlighted the cost and accessibility of healthcare, noting that medical procedures in India are often significantly cheaper while appointments and diagnostic services are more readily available.
“Private medical and dental procedures in New Zealand can often cost between five and 10 times more than equivalent treatments in India with the same quality or even better quality available in certain hospitals in India.
“In addition, access can be a challenge. Even when patients are willing to pay privately, diagnostic procedures such as MRI scans, CT scans, ultrasounds and sometimes even basic X-rays can involve delays. In India, patients can frequently obtain appointments, testing and results on the same day. Medical facilities and treatments are more quickly available at an affordable cost than in New Zealand, the New Zealand Herald has quoted.
“This difference highlights the growing importance of healthcare capacity and workforce planning in New Zealand,” as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
Responding to concerns that the India-New Zealand free trade agreement could lead to uncontrolled migration, Kumar said such fears were misplaced because immigration settings remain under the control of the New Zealand Government.
“The suggestion that Indian migrants are somehow a burden on New Zealand is inconsistent with the on-the-ground reality,” he says.
“Indian New Zealanders are business owners, healthcare professionals, teachers, transport operators, taxpayers, home owners and employers. They make significant contributions across virtually every sector of the New Zealand economy,” the New Zealand Herald has quoted.
He added that concerns New Zealand could lose its identity through closer ties with India overlook the fact that immigration policy continues to be determined by New Zealand's labour market and economic needs.
According to the New Zealand Herald, Kumar described India as a strategically important partner and said the free trade agreement could help New Zealand diversify its export markets while strengthening investment and business links.
He believes the agreement will deliver lasting economic benefits if supported by practical policies and a greater focus on attracting skilled talent.
For that to happen, he said the national conversation should shift away from migration numbers and instead focus on skills, economic contribution and New Zealand's long-term development.