People-to-people ties, labour mobility key to India–New Zealand FTA, says PM Luxon

Auckland: New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Wednesday said strengthening people-to-people ties and discussions on labour mobility will be a key component of the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with India.

He said a large number of Indian students are looking to study in New Zealand, particularly as opportunities in the US are getting closed while Canada is also moving to lower overall immigration volume.

"This is a country that's creating more opportunities to welcome people from overseas to New Zealand," Luxon told reporters, when asked about the increased rejection of Indian students' visas in New Zealand compared to those from China.


"We do want to increase people-to-people relationships, and conversations on labour mobility will be a very important part of this conversation, as part of that FTA," he said, addressing the media along with visiting Indian commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand trade minister Todd McClay.

Goyal is on a four-day trip to New Zealand. During the visit, Goyal along with McClay would review the progress of negotiations for the FTA with the fourth round of talks currently underway.

Citing the examples of investor visa and entrepreneurship visa, Luxon said the New Zealand government is taking several steps not just for students but also for visitors and businesses.

"We're very open to, you know, looking at what more we can do, and we're very open to working with both sides to make sure that we can make it easier," he said. "But, also, as India has its own protocols around immigration settings as well and has to manage risks from countries that want to come into India, it's the same for us in our immigration service as well."

On the proposed FTA, the prime minister said both nations can benefit from the deal as they have complementary economies.

On the long-term goal of India-New Zealand strategic relationship, he said there is a huge opportunity in areas such as defence, security, and space.