David Pine from the New Zealand High Commission met with Indian officials to talk trade in June. Photo: New Zealand High Commission in New Delhi
With memories of Prime Minister Chris Hipkins' high-profile visit to China at the end of June losing their lustre, all eyes seem to now be on India with the election just around the corner.
On Wednesday, Hipkins vowed to lead a delegation to India within 100 days of forming a new government.
This followed an earlier commitment from National leader Christopher Luxon to do the same within a year of becoming prime minister.
Importantly, both agree on the need to prioritise a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the world's most populous nation and fifth-largest economy.
The promises come in the wake of a five-day trip to India by the largest-ever delegation of New Zealand business leaders from five organisations late last month, with 50 delegates representing India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC), Auckland Business Chamber, Employers and Manufacturers Association, Export NZ and the NZ International Business Forum.
"The trip has provided an injection of energy and momentum as we work to reframe the bilateral relationship and identify new opportunities in agritech, food and beverage, advanced manufacturing, horticulture, bio-pharma, information technology and nutriceuticals," said Michael Fox, INZBC chairperson and head of global public affairs at Zespri.
Simon Bridges, chief executive of Auckland Business Chamber, agrees.
"The successful engagement between delegation members and their Indian counterparts point towards trade and investment opportunities, even in the absence of a FTA," Bridges said.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, who was part of the delegation, noted "strong interest in India on collaboration opportunities with New Zealand across several biotech and agritech domains".
The delegation's visit coincided with Minister for Agriculture, Trade and Export Growth Damien O'Connor's second trip to India in a year.
O'Connor met Indian Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to discuss prospects for improving air links between the two countries. He also met his counterpart in India's Agriculture Ministry and examined ways to expand primary sector partnerships.
"My meetings with Air India, dairy cooperative Amul, members of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Confederation of Indian Industry have laid the groundwork for a strong economic partnership between us," O'Connor said. "It has helped progress the prospect of a direct flight between New Zealand and India that will help tourism, business and education."
O'Connor and Piyush Goyal, minister of commerce and industry, agreed in a joint statement to "find a feasible alternative to allow (the) import of wooden logs from New Zealand".
The ministers welcomed the recent commencement of Indian mango exports to New Zealand as well as the progress being made by New Zealand on India's request for allowing two additional vapour heat treatment facilities in India to be given the green light.
"We also welcome early discussions between National Payments Corporation of India and Payments NZ regarding the Unified Payments Interface system," the ministers said in their statement. "We agreed that (the) introduction of UPI in New Zealand would promote ease of doing business between both the countries and promote trade and tourism."
Trade Commissioner Graham Rouse and David Pine, New Zealand's high commissioner, welcomed the positive sentiment.
"It's a really exciting time for New Zealand businesses to be in India," Rouse said.
Rouse moderated a panel at the INZBC annual summit on 30 August, which was held in India for the first time. New Zealand companies Fisher and Paykel, Zespri, Rakon and Zestt Wellness were part of a session in which participants shared insights on navigating the Indian market successfully.
The delegation's visit was preceded by a fifth round of India-New Zealand Foreign Ministry consultations in Wellington on 18 August, where both sides noted the "recent momentum in high-level engagements and the need to sustain this".
Leading think tanks from both countries - Indian Council of World Affairs and Asia New Zealand Foundation (ANZF) - met in Delhi around the same time. The ANZF delegation also interacted with India's Observer Research Foundation, discussing strategic issues and sharing New Zealand's approach to the Indo-Pacific.
Professor David Capie, director of the New Zealand India Research Institute at Victoria University, also joined discussions.
Tony Martin, chief executive of Prevar, said the delegates on the mission were "incredibly optimistic about partnership opportunities inrapid innovation, different commercial models, knowledge exchanges and scaling up for mass markets to help solve some of India's growing pains".
Bridges welcomed the opportunity for similar delegations to visit India in future.
"India has a real confidence about it and is making great strides economically," he said. "This delegation has created a platform for the next one. New Zealand businesses need to return in 2024, ideally with the support of the prime minister. We need to demonstrate a clear strategy, which includes building on emerging partnerships with India's priority sectors and focusing on a few key Indian states."