While a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and India is yet to show tangible progress, business-to-business ties between organisations in either country is gathering momentum.
A number of major companies in the IT, consultancy, banking and commercial sectors have established their presence in New Zealand and Kiwi investors are being encouraged to promote closer commercial cooperation with their Indian counterparts.
New Zealand companies can take advantage of the presence of a number of corporate giants in India and New Zealand, including ANZ Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, Ernst Young, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, the Mahindra Group and many others.
Formidable force
A Memorandum of Understanding signed by the New Zealand National Fieldays Society (NZFS) with The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on November 27, 2012 in India during a visit of Primary Industries Minister David Carter is the latest example of the rich potential that remains to be tapped.
Based in Hamilton, the NZFS owns the Mystery Creek Events Centre and organises the annual New Zealand National Agricultural Field Day event. Its other activities include the ‘Transport and Heavy Equipment Expo,’ and ‘Equidays.’
The Society is a major sponsor of the annual Waikato Boat fishing and Leisure Show.
CII was established almost 120 years ago as a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organisation.
With more than 7100 direct members and 90,000 companies representing 250 national and international associations of public and private sectors as indirect members, this organisation is a formidable force in promoting international contacts and trade.
Strategic partnerships
ANZ Bank has been a staunch supporter of promoting business in various sectors in both countries, apart from being a strategic partner of the New Zealand India Business Council.
It brokered the MoU between NZFAS and CII.
The Bank’s Head of India Relations Sunil Kaushal was in India along with a ministerial delegation led by Mr Carter in November.
NZFS Chief Executive John Calder, Patton Limited Chief Executive Sameer Handa and National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi were among the members of the delegation.
“The MoU will continue to strengthen the relations between New Zealand and Indian Agribusinesses and the bond between NZ National Fieldays and CII Agrotech,” Mr Calder said.
Mr Kaushal said that the MoU will provide a foundation on which further cooperation, trade and investment between the agri sectors of both countries can be built.
“ANZ has a growing presence in India and is proud to play a role in promoting the agriculture and farming sectors of both countries,” he said.
He said that as a fast-growing economic power, India has been forecast to become the world’s third largest economy by 2025.
“Increasing bilateral trade and agricultural exchange is important to both governments and one of the key elements of the FTA talks,” he said.
Farming benefits
Mr Kaushal said that farming and agriculture is the dominating industry in India and that greater exchange between the two countries will see the former benefit from New Zealand’s world-leading agri technology and expertise, and the latter from being a partner supplier to one of Asia’s largest primary producers.
The delegation attended the ‘Agro-Tech’ expo held at the Parade Grounds in Chandigarh from December 1 to 4, 2012.
National event
Mr Calder said that this year’s National Agricultural Fieldays will be held from June 12 to 15 at the Mystery Creek Events Centre under the theme, ‘Getting down to Business in the Global Economy.’
“The theme will highlight New Zealand’s unique position as an innovative agribusiness-driven economy and our potential to capitalise on the growing international demand for food, protein, and agricultural expertise,” he said.
The picture appearing in this report shows (front row, from left) Mr Bakshi, New Zealand High Commissioner Jan Henderson, Mr Carter, Mr Calder, New Zealand National Agriculture Fieldays Board Member Tony Begbie and Mr Kaushal.
In the back row (from left) are Delhi based Trade Commissioner Richard White and ANZ Bank New Zealand General Manager (Agri & Strategy Commercial) Ross Verry
