Bilateral meeting held between Union Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and Minister for Trade and Export Growth, New Zealand, Mr. Damien O’ Connor

New Delhi, Aug 29, 2023, PIB

1      Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Textile and Consumer
Affairs, Food & Public Distribution of India and Hon Damien O’Connor, Minister for
Trade and Export Growth of New Zealand, had a bilateral meeting yesterday at New
Delhi. This meeting is part of a sustained effort by both governments to develop a
broad-based relationship, building on the excellent meeting between the Prime
Ministers of both the countries in Port Moresby on 22 May, 2023.
2 New Zealand and India enjoy strong people-to-people linkages; these extend over a
range of activities including commerce, education, and tourism. People of Indian
origin in New Zealand are making a strong contribution to all aspects of society.
These linkages provide a strong base for advancing our economic cooperation. 
3 Ministers acknowledged the strong step-up in engagement between businesses in the
two countries, and the desirability of ensuring this provides impetus to the
government-to-government dialogue. The importance of the annual meeting of the
Joint Trade Committee (JTC), established under the 1986 India-New Zealand Trade
Agreement, and regular engagement at a senior level was also acknowledged.
Ministers agreed to meet on regular basis, as convenient, for bilateral discussions on
trade and investment issues and co-operative activities.
4 In committing to strengthening the trade and economic relationship, Ministers
acknowledged:
 the intention of both the countries to test new and innovative approaches to
economic partnership.
 that new initiatives should focus on encouraging, facilitating and coordinating
collaboration of technology and expertise for genuine mutual benefit.
 that the opportunities in each other’s markets, which is of interest to
businesses of both the countries should be explored.
 Noted the increase in engagement between both the countries under a
collaborative approach that engages officials from across relevant government
departments and the private sector, wherever appropriate. The broad and
informal engagements are aimed at fresh ideas for new, innovative and
productive areas for partnership between both the countries.
Next steps
5.         Ministers were pleased to notethe joint stakeholder consultations held with the
industries of both the sides and a broad agreement reached to constitute working
groups on subjects of mutual interest.  These would be in addition to and in support of
existing initiatives and bilateral consultative forums, designed to strengthen trade and
industry cooperation and collaboration activities between both the sides. Amongst

others, it includes possible innovative technical collaboration in the field of
agriculture and horticulture including Kiwi fruit; pharmaceuticals; processing, storage
& transportation etc.
6.         On the trade facilitation side, Ministers acknowledged the joint effort to find a
feasible alternative to allow import of wooden logs from New Zealand. Ministers
welcomed the recent commencement of export of Indian mango to New Zealand as
well as the progress being made by New Zealand on India’s request for allowing two
additional Vapour Heat Treatment facility in India for export of mangoes.
7.         Ministers acknowledged the desirability of improving air connectivity between
New Zealand and India, and welcomed the finalisation of the Memorandum of
Understanding to further liberalise the bilateral Air Services Agreement between the
two countries. Ministers noted the desire of both countries’ to deepen existing
education ties and identifying new areas of cooperation.
8.         Ministers welcomed early discussions between National Payments
Corporation of India (NPCI) and Payments NZ regarding the Unified Payments
Interface (UPI) system and agreed that both sides should continue deliberations on
this issue. They agreed that introduction of UPI in New Zealand would promote ease
of doing business between both the countries and promote trade and tourism as well.
9. Ministers acknowledged the excellent cooperation between India and New Zealand
as part of the membership of both the countries in Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
for Prosperity across the supply chains, clean economy and fair economy pillars, and
the role of the two countries to inform stronger, inclusive, transparent and
development oriented economic and trade rules through regional institutions.
10.       Ministers desired to review the progress made by the working groups and the
recommendations thereof at regular intervals.