India and New Zealand to strengthen agricultural partnership

New Zealand supports the import of Indian pomegranates and the lifting of restrictions on mango exports

India’s Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan met Todd Mcclay, New Zealand’s Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Trade, and Associate Minister for Foreign Affairs, along with his delegation for a high-level bilateral meeting held at the Krishi Bhavan in New Delhi.

The meeting focused on key areas of mutual interest and opportunities for collaboration. Discussions were centred on sharing information about the agricultural priorities of both countries and exploring new avenues for partnership, including the proposed Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on horticulture. The ministers expressed their commitment to deepening the agricultural partnership, which has seen significant progress in recent years.

Minister Chouhan expressed his appreciation for 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 besides senior Officers of 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 also expressed his hope for swift approval of the newly audited VHT facilities in Lucknow and Delhi, which would further enhance the export of Indian mangoes to New Zealand.