India-NZ FTA Comes into Force on Oct 20

India and New Zealand are set to boost their bilateral trade and investments as the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes into force on October 20, 2026. The pact, signed on April 27, provides duty-free access for 100% of India's exports to New Zealand from its entry into force.

The agreement also facilitates significant investments of USD 20 billion over the next 15 years from New Zealand to India, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said. This will give a boost to Indian manufacturing sectors with technology from New Zealand, he added.

Goyal said that the pact establishes an agricultural productivity partnership where New Zealand's technology will meet India's scale and growing demand. The agreement will provide preferential access to the large and fastest-growing economy of the world for New Zealand. For sensitive sectors like dairy, onions, chickpeas, peas, corn, almonds, artificial honey, and sugar, certain restrictions have been kept.