India’s Minister of Commerce & Industry Anand Sharma will be in New Zealand on a three-day visit next week.
He will be in Auckland on May 9, to participate in the meetings of the Joint Business Council, New Zealand companies and officials of the Government.
He will be in Wellington the following day to attend a luncheon meeting hosted by New Zealand’s Trade Minister Tim Groser and attend other meetings with businesses and officials of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Export New Zealand, before leaving for Australia in the evening.
Mr Sharma and Mr Groser will review the progress of a Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand, negotiations for which are going on between officials of the two countries.
A high-power business delegation including top officials of the Delhi based Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry will accompany Mr Sharma, who is visiting New Zealand for the first time.
A lawyer by qualification, Mr Sharma was a student leader and a champion of youth movement in India. He a veteran in international affairs and brings to his current assignment a high level of diplomacy and negotiation skills.
