New Delhi: Underlining the importance of predictable rules and the need for dismantling barriers to productivity and growth, New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay has stated that New Zealand wants a modern, broad-based, comprehensive relationship with India.
Addressing Indian businesses and community leaders here in Delhi, the Minister said that New Zealand and India can do so much more together.
“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 inter‑linked. New Zealand wants a modern, broad-based, comprehensive relationship with India,” McClay said.
“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,” he further said.
Suggesting the priority of his government, McClay said, “It’s no coincidence that I have chosen to visit Delhi as my first international engagement.”
He further added, “You should read it as intended; a signal of the strategic priority that the New Zealand Government attaches to the relationship with India.”
McClay later on Tuesday met his Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal and discussed ways to strengthen trade relations between India and New Zealand.
The two Ministers highlighted the need to deepen engagement in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, pharma, connectivity, education and tourism.
“In committing to strengthen the trade and economic relationship, Ministers expressed the need to increase engagement between both the countries under a collaborative approach that engages officials from across relevant departments and the private sector, wherever appropriate,” said a media release after the meeting.
The Ministers exchanged views on global trade dynamics and reaffirmed their support for a rules-based, transparent, and inclusive multilateral trading system.
