India and New Zealand Round Table Meeting

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Why in News?

Recently, the first Round Table Joint Meeting between India and New Zealand with the industry and industry associations of both the countries took place in New Delhi.

  • The meeting was co-chaired by the Additional Secretary, Department of Commerceand High Commissioner of New Zealand.

What are the Key Highlights of the Meeting?

  • Both the countries acknowledged the huge potential in India and New Zealand partnershipand the need for bringing in synergy for enhanced economic relations in areas of mutual interest.
    • There was an acknowledged need to work beyond any free trade agreement and explore other areas where both can complement each other.
  • The discussions focused on taking forward the objectives of theJoint Trade Committee (JTC), formed under the Bilateral Trade Agreement of 1986.
  • New Zealand emphasised on facilitating trade and association with private sectors with some of the key areas being thepromotion of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) system, carbon credit co-operation and working on issues like the requests on non-tariff measures for bilateral gains to the businesses of both the sides.
    • The need forincreasing the air connectivity links between the two countries was also emphasised.

What are the Key Points about New Zealand?

  • Official Name:New Zealand/Aotearoa (Maori)
  • Form of Government:Parliamentary democracy
  • Capital:Wellington
  • Official Languages:English, Maori
  • Currency:New Zealand dollar
  • Major Mountain Ranges:Southern Alps, Kaikoura Ranges
  • Highest Mountain Peak:Mount Cook (3,754 meters) – called “Cloud Piercer” by Maori people
  • Major Rivers:Waikato, Clurtha, Rangitaiki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Buller, Rakaia, Waitaki and Waiau
  • 2 Main Islands:North and South Islands – separated by the Cook Strait

How are India’s Relations with New Zealand?

  • Historical Relations: India and New Zealand have a longstanding, friendly and growing relationship with ties going back to the 1800s, when Indians settled in Christchurch around the 1850s.
    • Larger numbers of immigrants from Punjab and Gujarat came to New Zealand in the 1890s. Indian troops fought alongside the Anzacs in Gallipoli in 1915.
  • Political Relations: India and New Zealand have cordial and friendly relations rooted in the linkages of the Commonwealth, parliamentary democracy, and the English language.
    • Both countries became independent in the same year and diplomatic representation of India was established in 1950.
    • Other common interests of the two countries include their commitment to disarmament, North-South Dialogue, human rights, ecological preservation and combating international terrorism.
    • New Zealand identifiedIndia as a priority country in its “Opening Doors to India” policy notified in October 2011, which was reiterated in 2015.
  • Cooperation during Covid-19 Pandemic: Both countries cooperated extensively both bilaterally in fighting against the pandemic by ensuring the continuity of supply chains of essential commodities, medicines, and vaccines.
    • India and New Zealand also facilitated the repatriation of each other’s nationals stranded in the wake of Covid-19.
  • Trade Relations:India is New Zealand’s 11th largest two-way trading partner with total two-way trade valued at USD 1.80 billion during the year ending September 2020.
    • Education and tourism are New Zealand’s growth sectorswith India.
    • Indian students (~15000 in number pre-pandemic) are the 2nd largest source of international students for New Zealand.
    • India primarilyimports logs and forestry products, wood pulp, wool and edible fruit & nuts from New Zealand and exports mostly pharmaceuticals/medications, precious metals and gems, textiles and motor vehicles and non-knitted apparel and accessories to New Zealand.
    • India shares Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with New Zealand.
  • Business Alliances:India -New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) and India New Zealand Trade Alliance (INZTA) are the two prominent organizations working to promote India-NZ trade and investment relations.
  • Cultural Relations: All Indian festivals including Diwali, Holi, Rakshabandhan, Baisakhi, Guruparv, Onam, Pongal, etc. are celebrated with much enthusiasm all over New Zealand.
    • New Zealand has approximately 2,50,000 persons of Indian origin & NRIs, a vast majority of which has made New Zealand their permanent home.
  • Civil Aviation Cooperation:Given the large Indian diaspora in New Zealand and increasing two-way tourism flow, there is a strong case for a direct air connection between the two countries which might prove to be a game-change for all aspects of bilateral relations.
    • The direct flights operated between the two countries under the Vande Bharat Mission have strengthened the prospects of a direct weekly flight as and when the possibility becomes commercially feasible for airlines.

Source: PIB

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