Trade Minister Todd McClay attends public and private meetings in Delhi
Venkat Raman
Auckland, December 20, 2023
The new Coalition government made its first pitch for a ‘renewed relationship’ with India, more than a year after the former (now defeated) Foreign Minister (Nahia Mahuta) snubbed the world’s fastest-growing economy with which a Free Trade Agreement was not a priority.’
Speaking at a public meeting attended by more than 250 industrialists, investors and entrepreneurs in New Delhi yesterday (December 19, 2023), the new Trade Minister Todd McClay played the right cards and mentioned Cricket and the country’s contributions, which was music to Indian ears. The meeting, the presence at which for Mr McClay was secured by G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, was ahead of a bilateral meeting that he had with India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal later at his office.
Refreshers
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Mr McClay underscored the importance of two-way trade as a pre-requisite feature of a multifaceted and diverse bilateral relationship but did not mention any bargain deals.
He was unapologetically ambitious for New Zealand that improving trade and economic relationship would deliver ‘real’ benefits for businesses, communities and economies of both countries.
Benefits of multilateral pacts
“New Zealand is deeply enmeshed in the Indo-Pacific trade architecture through a range of bilateral agreements and membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the ASEAN Australia New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and more recently the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF),” he said.
India is a member of the IPEF, which is based on Four Pillars – Trade, Supply Chain, Climate-focused Clean Economy and Fair Economy based on rule of law issues such as corruption.
Mr McClay said that New Zealand appreciates the constructive role that India has played in the negotiation of these pillars and that his government is keen to achieve a formal partnership with India on these issues. This network of agreements has supported remarkable economic growth in the Indo-Pacific region and has drawn trading partners closer politically, affirming and strengthening relationships.
“Our relationship with India also has partnership at its core. The political, defence and security, people-to-people, cultural and economic elements of our relationship are interlinked. New Zealand wants a modern, broad-based, comprehensive relationship with India. We want economic cooperation based on mutual benefit and shared interests. This means supporting India’s economic ambitions in a way that benefits both countries. It means knowing each other better and investing across the relationship in areas of importance to us both. I am keen to hear in my conversations here in Delhi about the areas where India sees potential for us to strengthen our partnership,” Mr McClay said.
Increased tempo of engagement
He promised the people and government of India that they can expect an increased tempo of engagement across all areas of relationships, at all levels of government. He also promised to discuss his takeaways from New Delhi with his cabinet colleagues and businesses in New Zealand to achieve a more broad-based relationship with India.
He said that for many decades now, India has been a key destination for New Zealand travellers, adventurers and businesses, and that New Zealand has benefited from a number of Indian professionals, student exchanges, and rapid increases in tourists looking for a sense of adventure.
“India has now become New Zealand’s second-largest source of international students. India is also New Zealand’s second largest destination for our students under the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia, established by former Prime Minister John Key. This exchange of ideas and insights generates tremendous opportunities for growth and the personal connections forged between our two peoples are invaluable. Many of the movers and shakers of New Zealand culture, society, and economy are of Indian origin, and we are so enriched by the close partnerships forged by these people,” Mr McClay said.
He mentioned former Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, the first, India-born Mayor of Dunedin Sukhi Turner, Singer and YouTube sensation Shirley Setia, Best-Selling Author and Founder of Girls that Invest Simran Kaur and Blackcaps Batsman Rachin Ravindra as examples of people of Indian origin who have risen to prominence in New Zealand, enriching the country’s status.
Formidable challenges
On global changes, Mr McClay said that the new Coalition government faces an increasingly challenging external environment, an international system under threat, global food security under pressure, conflicts and tensions creating disunity and an erosion of the rules we rely on and increasingly dramatic climate events.
“These global challenges are worrying and in our region they are acute. In this environment, responsible nations that understand each other must draw closer together to safeguard our security and prosperity. Strengthening global connections through trade and economic cooperation is my focus. I believe nations are at their best when they are leveraging their economic and commercial strengths to shared benefit. I believe in the stabilising effect of trade and economic integration,” he said.
Mr McClay is being accompanied by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Deputy Chief Executive (Policy) Ben King and Deputy Secretary Americas and Asia Group Deborah Geels. In Delhi, he was joined by New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India David Pine at talks and visits.
Mr McClay began his engagement in Delhi with a visit to the Swaminarayan BAPS Akshardham (Temple), the world’s second-largest BAPS Hindu Temple (after New Jersey, USA). The Complex, built in 2005, displays millennia of traditional and modern Hindu culture, spirituality, and architecture and was inspired by Yogiji Maharaj and created by Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
