Page 34 - NIS English 16-31 May, 2026

India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

India–New Zealand Trade Pact

Unlocks Duty-Free Exports

India and New Zealand share long-standing and friendly relations. The two nations share
Commonwealth heritage, democratic traditions, legal systems, and a mutual passion for
sports. Cooperation across the fields of politics, trade, defense, education, tourism, culture,
and sports is continuously expanding. In furtherance of this relationship, on April 27, 2026,
the two countries signed the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement in New Delhi, marking
one of the most rapidly concluded free trade agreements in history. This FTA will eliminate
tariffs on Indian exports, attract an estimated $20 billion in investment, and significantly
expand opportunities for students and skilled professionals.

ndia’s economy is consistently scaling new heights,
with its exports setting fresh records regularly. In the
Ifinancial year 2025-26, India’s exports of goods and This modern and balanced
services reached a record high of US$ 860.09 billion, agreement will foster collective
representing a 4.22 percent increase compared to the growth by harnessing the strengths
previous year. Despite global disruptions, sectors such of both nations. It will unlock
as engineering goods, electronics, pharmaceuticals, new opportunities for farmers,
chemicals, gems and jewelry, and agro-based products artisans, the youth, entrepreneurs,
have successfully maintained their export momentum. women, and MSMEs. Access
The primary catalyst for this success has been the
global expansion of the Indian market over the past to global markets will expand
few years, facilitated by the signing of various free trade across sectors such as agriculture,
agreements. On April 27, India signed a Free Trade manufacturing, technology,
Agreement with New Zealand at the Bharat Mandapam education, and services.
in New Delhi; this marks India’s ninth such agreement
concluded with developed nations over recent years. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

32 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || May 16-31, 2026