As Trade Minister Tim Groser has often said, New Zealand’s relationship with India is warm and constructive, but there are a large number of countries vying for India’s attention, creating a challenging environment for a small country like New Zealand to make an impact.
He said that relationship with India is a foreign and trade policy priority.
We need to increase the intensity of our interaction with India across the board if we are to take advantage of the opportunities it offers.
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with India is potentially of huge value to New Zealand.
Clearly, reducing trade barriers such as tariffs will deliver concrete economic benefits, but CECA will also help develop a longer-term strategic partnership.
New Zealand is well placed to assist India with expertise and resources as it seeks to sustain its growth path.
One example is the agriculture sector.
New Zealand technologies and knowhow in post-harvest processing, transport, cold storage, and food safety could provide opportunities for cooperative relationships.
We have always maintained that a Free Trade Agreement and CECA will be challenging and even formidable, since India will not compromise on its high tariff policy on agricultural imports.
New Zealand must work hard to take the relationship with India, and the CECA in particular, forward.
