India, New Zealand to resume FTA negotiations in New Delhi on October 13-14

The third round of negotiations for the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) concluded successfully in Queenstown, New Zealand. The next round of in-person talks is scheduled for October 13-14 in New Delhi.

According to India's Commerce Ministry, the discussions held from September 15–19 were constructive, with several chapters of the agreement concluded and significant progress made in other key areas. Both sides agreed to sustain momentum through inter-sessional engagements, underlining their shared resolve to deepen trade, investment, and economic cooperation.

India's bilateral merchandise trade with New Zealand stood at $1.3 billion in FY 2024-25, marking nearly 49% growth over the previous year. The proposed FTA is expected to further boost trade flows, encourage investment linkages, strengthen supply chain resilience, and create a predictable framework for businesses in both countries.

The negotiations were formally launched on March 16 this year during a meeting between India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay. Since then, both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen economic ties and work toward an early conclusion of a balanced, mutually beneficial agreement.

India is also pursuing other trade deals, including a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States; FTAs with the European Union, Oman, Chile, Peru, and Sri Lanka; an upgraded trade agreement with Australia; and reviews of existing arrangements with ASEAN and South Korea.