India and New Zealand on Friday wrapped up the third round of negotiations on their proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking steady progress towards a comprehensive pact aimed at deepening economic cooperation, Mint reported.
Officials from both sides held discussions in Queenstown, where several chapters of the agreement were finalised and headway was made in other critical areas. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that the talks reflected the “shared commitment” of the two countries to strengthen trade and investment ties and to conclude the agreement at the earliest opportunity, reported Mint.
The next round of negotiations will be held in New Delhi on October 13–14. In the meantime, inter-sessional engagements will be pursued to maintain momentum.
According to a report by Mint, negotiations for the FTA were formally launched in March 2025 following a meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay. The first round of talks took place in May, and the second in July.
India’s trade with New Zealand has seen a sharp rise, reaching USD 1.3 billion in FY 2024–25, an increase of nearly 49 per cent over the previous year.
Officials believe the FTA could provide a strong push to bilateral trade flows, enhance supply chain resilience, attract investments, and create a predictable environment for businesses on both sides.
Alongside trade talks, the two countries have also been engaging through broader diplomatic channels. Earlier this month, during Foreign Office Consultations, officials reviewed cooperation in areas including defence, agriculture, education, climate change, and people-to-people exchanges, while taking stock of commitments made during New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to India in March, Mint reported.
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