Opinion
Chandan Ohri
Auckland, February 27, 2025
Editor’s Standfirst: Chandan Ohri is the Chief Executive of Duco Consultancy, a multinational firm with offices in New Zealand, India, Fiji, Australia and the United States of America, serving large, medium and small firms. His Mantra is Serving to Grow and Growing to Serve and understands the immense potential that exists for New Zealand to improve its trade, investment, industrial, commercial, sports and cultural interests with India. The following article (mainly on the Conference and a Panel Session) which he first posted on LinkedIn, has been edited and amended to include developments that occurred afterwards. To that extent, this is featured under Opinion.
The Indian Diplomacy Highnote
Indian Diplomacy is a delicate and multifaceted endeavour, characterised by its historical depth, cultural richness, and strategic foresight. The nation’s diplomatic framework is built upon principles of self-assertion, a high note of national interest, strategic autonomy, and a commitment to multilateralism. India’s geopolitical landscape demands a nuanced approach, balancing relationships with foreign powers while advocating for the interests of the Global South.
For foreign bureaucrats and diplomats, navigating this intricate web requires a profound understanding of India’s domestic and international priorities. It is imperative to approach bilateral and multilateral engagements with respect for India’s sovereignty and its diverse socio-political fabric. Diplomats must exercise discretion, refraining from publicising personal opinions that could be misconstrued or cause diplomatic friction. Instead, they should focus on fostering mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation.
Engaging with Indian counterparts necessitates a keen awareness of cultural sensitivities and historical contexts. Diplomatic dialogues should be conducted with a spirit of collaboration, emphasising shared goals and common interests. By maintaining a respectful and measured tone, our diplomats can contribute to a stable and productive relationship, ensuring that their interactions are both constructive and conducive to long-term partnership. In essence, the art of diplomacy with India lies in the balance of respect, discretion, and strategic engagement.
Empowering Economies
The High Commission of India and the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) provided an opportunity to speak under the theme “Empowering Economies: A New Era of New Zealand-India Business Relationships at the High Commission on February 13, 2025.
Among the main speakers were Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay and India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan.
Among the takeaways from the Conference were the following:
Ministerial Efforts: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had pledged as an election promise during his campaign in 2023 that if elected, he would make a higher level of engagement with India one of his priorities. As as well ‘working very hard’ to reach a Free Trade Agreement, he would visit India during the first year of his first term. State visits occur as per mutual convenience and Mr Luxon said that it would occur before the end of March 2025 and that he would lead a substantially large delegation. I hope that the visit will eventuate soon and that his business delegation truly represents companies that are well established in India as these entities will be the showcase for New Zealand’s constructive involvement with India.
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has done well to place India atop his list of ‘priority countries’ and has visited New Delhi three times during the past 15 months (which is a record), one of which included an Agricultural Mission to Gujarat in August 2024. His meetings with Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goel in New Delhi and on the sidelines of international conferences and summits have helped him to strengthen the bond.
These will be useful when trade and other agreements are considered in the coming months.
on February 13, 2025 (Photo Supplied)
Long-Term Relationship: India places great significance on long-term relationships and mutual trust. A sentiment aired in public by a New Zealand government official at an INZBC Forum does not show respect for the current Indian leadership and lacks belief in growing and strengthening relations with India. Indiscreet comments and unwarranted personal observations will not help. In fact, they will prove to be detrimental.
Transparency: Even as expectations mount (at the time of writing this article) over the proposed visit of Mr Luxon to India, there is a lack of transparency for the Indian business community who have made investments in the New Zealand-India relationship. This is a disturbing trend. We need to learn from other economies that have leveraged the Indian Diaspora to grow trade with India.
Trade Agreement: A comprehensive trade agreement is not likely to be a viable option in the current state of the relationship between New Zealand and India. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), the primary trade body currently does not seem to value India as a strategic market. The bilateral trade between New Zealand and India is at approximately US$1.7 billion and needs more focus. New Zealand needs to clearly articulate its value proposition in return for access to a gigantic 1.5 billion consumer market that makes India an extremely profitable destination for New Zealand companies. The support and guidance of New Zealand companies that are already well-established in India are not only desirable but imperative.
Industry Agreements: Industries like Meat, Kiwi Fruit and Technology should be the areas of focus. Industry-specific successes will help grow the relationship and act as a proof of concept for a more comprehensive agreement in future.
Make In India: There is a need for large New Zealand companies to invest in India and align with the Make in India strategy to show genuine intent. Collaboration with Invest India will be of strategic importance to companies.
Direct Flights: Direct flights between New Zealand and India need to start now, rather than later with protracted plans that this will materialise in 2026.
While great strides have been made in terms of the growing friendship between senior Indian and New Zealand ministerial leadership (Mr McClay and Mr Goyal), the operational alignment from MFAT & NZTE towards India leaves much to be desired.
Duco Consultancy is working with INZBC on the Second version of the Report ‘Unlocking India-New Zealand Trade Potential’ (the First Report was released in 2023). There is an independent survey in progress on support available from NZ agencies like NZTE, Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao to grow trade with India by Duco Consultancy.
Crossroads of Innovation
Among the highlights of the Conference was a dynamic panel discussion on Leveraging Mutual Strengths For Trade & Investment Growth. Moderated by Christine Maiden Sharp, Chief Executive, The Aspen Institute New Zealand, the session had insights from Bharat Chawla (Chairman, India New Zealand Business Council), Peter Miskimmin (Head of Sports Diplomacy, Sports New Zealand), John Allen (Export Sales Manager Mr Apple), Justine Arroll (General Manager, Trade Strategy, Fonterra), and myself.
New Zealand is at an important stage in its foreign policy and global trade. The success in both will be determined by our willingness to understand the political intricacies and economic challenges conditioned by the national interests of every partnership nation. These aspects are well spelt in the case of India and how well Mr Luxon is able to navigate his leadership will depend on all stakeholders, not least those in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Chandan Ohri is Chief Executive of Duco Consultancy, a Business Consultancy, Accounting, Software and other specialist services firm based in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, India and the United States of America. The company has won several awards including the Supreme Business Awards (presented by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins) at the 15th Annual Indian Newslink Business Awards held on November 25, 2024 at Pullman Hotel in Auckland.
