Prime Minister John Key ‘s visit to India this week aims to implement a Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand, as well as raise New Zealand’s profile as an international tourist destination. Mr Key met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday to discuss the possibility of Free Trade between the two countries. A free trade agreement promises to increase two way trade between the countries from NZ$1.3 billion to NZ$3 billion by 2014 – both parties hope to finalise the agreement in a 2012 signing. New Zealand dairy corporation Fonterra has a signalled a major interest in the free trade talks with hopes to increase dairy exports and New Zealand farming technology to in India.
Mr Key has also signed an agreement with India that aims to extend bilateral cooperation across the countries film industries. Mr Key has stated that the agreement will encourage Bollywood production to shoot films in New Zealand which will inadvertently promote the country’s beautiful sights and attractions. Mr Key has also raised the possibility of ‘helping with immigration’ and ‘speeding up the process’. While free trade negotiations was the main objective of Mr Key’s trip, he also states that it is important to increase New Zealand’s relationship with India across a range of areas including sport, film and education.
