Sun Mar 16 11:31:20 UTC 2025: ## India and New Zealand Restart Free Trade Agreement Talks After Eight-Year Hiatus
**New Delhi, India** – India and New Zealand have resumed negotiations for a long-stalled free trade agreement (FTA), marking a significant step in bilateral economic relations. The announcement, made Sunday, follows a meeting between Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay. The talks, which initially began in 2010 under the banner of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), had stalled in 2015 after nine rounds of discussions.
The renewed negotiations coincide with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s four-day visit to India, starting March 16th. Both countries expressed their commitment to achieving a “comprehensive and mutually beneficial” FTA aimed at improving market access and strengthening supply chain integration. The agreement is expected to boost trade in goods, services, and investment between the two nations.
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