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India-New Zealand FTA to Boost Farmers, Youth, MSMEs: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the newly signed India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement will benefit farmers, youth, MSMEs, and innovators. The pact is described as a transformative step for inclusive growth and a landmark moment in bilateral ties. New Zealand has committed $20 billion in investment, focusing on agriculture, manufacturing, and technology. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called the deal a historic milestone, noting it was concluded swiftly within 13 months.

Key Points: India-New Zealand FTA: Key Benefits for Farmers, Youth, MSMEs

  • PM Modi calls FTA a landmark moment for bilateral ties
  • Agreement will benefit farmers, youth, women, MSMEs, artisans, startups
  • New Zealand commits $20 billion investment in agriculture, manufacturing, tech
  • NZ PM Luxon calls deal a historic milestone, negotiations concluded in 13 months
2 min read

India-New Zealand FTA to benefit farmers, youth, MSMEs and innovators: PM Modi

PM Modi says the India-New Zealand FTA will empower farmers, youth, MSMEs, and innovators, with a $20 billion investment commitment from New Zealand.

"This agreement will greatly benefit our farmers, youth, women, MSMEs, artisans, startups, students and innovators. - Prime Minister Narendra Modi"

New Delhi, April 27

Calling it a transformative step for inclusive growth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the newly signed India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement will unlock wide-ranging opportunities across key segments of society, from farmers and small businesses to startups and students.

In a post on social media platform X, PM Modi described the pact as a 'landmark moment' in bilateral ties, emphasising that it reflects the deep trust, shared values and growing ambition between the two nations.

He underlined that the agreement is not just about trade expansion but about empowering diverse sections of society and accelerating India's development trajectory.

"Today marks a landmark moment in the India-New Zealand partnership. I am delighted that the India-New Zealand FTA signed today will add unprecedented momentum to our developmental partnership," PM Modi said.

"It reflects the deep trust, shared values and ambition that bind our two nations," the Prime Minister stated.

He also highlighted New Zealand's $20 billion investment commitment, noting that it would strengthen cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, innovation and technology, paving the way for a more dynamic economic partnership.

"This agreement will greatly benefit our farmers, youth, women, MSMEs, artisans, startups, students and innovators," Prime Minister Modi said.

"It will open new avenues for growth, create opportunities and deepen our synergy across sectors," he stated.

Echoing similar optimism, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the deal as a "historic milestone" that signals a new phase in bilateral relations.

Luxon recalled that negotiations began just 13 months ago following his visit to India, and credited ministers and officials from both countries for swiftly concluding a comprehensive agreement.

"India is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing economies, but our trade relationship has only begun to scratch the surface of its potential. Prime Minister Modi and I could see that an FTA would be a massive opportunity for the two countries," he stated.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sneha F
Finally, some concrete progress in trade diplomacy! $20 billion investment commitment is no joke. For our startups and MSMEs, this could open doors to global value chains. But I hope our dairy sector is protected—New Zealand is a powerhouse there.
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James A
It's impressive how quickly these negotiations wrapped up—13 months is fast for an FTA of this scale. The emphasis on farmers and students is smart; it's not just about big corporations. Let's see if it creates real jobs back home.
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Rohit L
As a farmer from Punjab, I'm cautiously optimistic. If this means better prices for our produce and access to kiwi technology for cold storage and supply chains, it's welcome. But the devil is in the details—our smallholders need protection from cheap imports. Let's hope the government has that covered.
K
Kavya N
Great news for students! 🇮🇳🤝🇳🇿 More opportunities for exchange programs and research collaborations. And for innovators, this could mean fewer barriers to tech partnerships. But I wonder how this impacts local manufacturing—will we see a flood of New Zealand goods?
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Michael C
The optics are good, but I have my doubts. FTAs often sound grand but take years to yield tangible results. Remember how we struggled to get the EU deal? Still, Modi and Luxon seem to have a solid rapport, so maybe this one will actually deliver for the common person.

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