New Delhi: In order to strengthen bilateral relations in agriculture and allied sectors, India’s Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, met with Todd McClay, New Zealand’s Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Trade, and Associate Minister for Foreign Affairs, and his delegation for a high-level bilateral meeting at Krishi Bhavan in New Delhi today.
The meeting focused on key areas of mutual interest and opportunities for collaboration. Discussions centred on sharing information about the agricultural priorities of both countries and exploring new avenues for partnership, including a proposed Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on horticulture. Both ministers expressed their commitment to deepening the agricultural collaboration, which has seen significant progress in recent years. The meeting is expected to deepen India-New Zealand bilateral relations in agriculture and allied sectors.
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Minister Chouhan appreciated New Zealand’s proactive efforts in strengthening ties with India and acknowledged the importance of the New Zealand government’s ongoing commitment to this relationship. He highlighted the historical, business, and cultural ties between the two nations, noting the significant contributions of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand and the increasing educational exchanges between the countries.
The meeting was also attended by the High Commissioner of New Zealand to India, Patrick Rata, along with senior officers from both countries. Key outcomes of the meeting included positive developments in trade and market access. New Zealand’s support for the import of Indian pomegranates and the lifting of restrictions on mango exports was warmly acknowledged. Minister Chouhan expressed hope for the swift approval of the newly audited VHT facilities in Lucknow and Delhi, which would further enhance the export of Indian mangoes to New Zealand.
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Additionally, Minister McClay thanked India for the recent resumption of pine log exports from New Zealand to India, which helped overcome previous fumigation-related challenges. Union Minister Chouhan reiterated India’s support for continuing cooperation in this area and emphasised the potential for expanding trade in other agricultural products, including fresh and dried fruits like oranges and bananas. He particularly mentioned considering early market access for Indian exporters to export grapes to New Zealand. Both sides agreed to foster greater private-sector partnerships to further enhance bilateral trade and investment.
The meeting also touched upon the importance of technical cooperation in research and development, especially in horticulture and cage fisheries, recognising the vast potential for collaboration in this sector. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to working closely to strengthen economic and trade ties, benefiting farmers, producers, and consumers in both countries.
The meeting concluded with Shivraj Singh Chouhan extending his best wishes to Minister McClay and his delegation for a productive and pleasant stay in India.
