India, New Zealand Conclude Third Round of Free Trade Agreement Talks

The third round of negotiations for India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement concluded successfully on Friday in Queenstown, New Zealand. Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a statement that the discussions reaffirmed the shared commitment of both nations to strengthen economic ties and work towards the early conclusion of a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement. The negotiations reflected a common resolve to deepen bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation, guided by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The FTA was formally launched on 16th March this year during the meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment, Todd McClay. The third round witnessed constructive discussions across all areas of the agreement. Several chapters were concluded and significant progress was achieved in other key domains. India’s bilateral merchandise trade with New Zealand stood at 1.3 billion dollars in 2024-25, registering a growth of nearly 49% over the previous year. The proposed FTA is expected to further boost trade flows, promote investment linkages, strengthen supply chain resilience, and create a predictable framework for businesses in both countries.