India eyes $20 billion gold rush in New Zealand
India's free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand comes into effect on Tuesday, granting Indian goods duty-free access to the New Zealand market. The pact, signed on April 27, 2026, marks India's 17th operational FTA and expands educational and professional mobility opportunities. Services and skilled migration could yield larger gains than the modest boost to merchandise exports, according to Ajay Srivastava, founder of Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).
Indian students can work up to 20 hours per week, while graduates with STEM degrees will receive three- to four-year post-study work visas. Skilled professionals can temporarily work in New Zealand for up to three years, particularly in IT, healthcare, and education. The agreement also includes agricultural provisions, with New Zealand offering selective access to India through tariff-rate quotas on apples, kiwifruit, Mānuka honey, and albumins.
However, the $20 billion investment goal set by New Zealand over 15 years remains aspirational, as current investment between the two nations is minimal.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
