AUCKLAND: What a thrilling five-day journey of talks between India and New Zealand! The fourth round of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations just wrapped up, and both sides are pumped to build a strong and modern treaty. India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met New Zealand's Trade Minister Todd McClay in Auckland, and together they marked this round as a major step forward. The talks happened across two cities, where both Indian and New Zealand teams dived deep into hot topics like trade in goods, services, economic cooperation, and rules of origin. An official statement after the talks said, "The discussions reflected the shared ambition to strengthen economic ties and build a mutually beneficial partnership that supports resilient, inclusive and sustainable growth." India is all set to deepen its economic friendship with New Zealand, aiming for a future-ready deal that not only increases trade but also beefs up supply-chain resilience. The statement added, "India remains committed to forging deeper economic partnerships that contribute to global prosperity and secure supply chains." Minister Goyal highlighted the expected benefits of the FTA: bigger trade volumes, stronger investment links, clear market access, and more predictable business conditions for companies on both sides. "The ongoing discussions reflect the shared resolve of both the nations to expedite the process and work towards an early, balanced and mutually advantageous conclusion of the agreement," the statement boldly declared. It's official—India's bilateral merchandise trade with New Zealand hit a sparkling $1.3 billion in FY 2024-25, soaring almost 49% compared to last year! The proposed free trade pact promises to unlock fantastic opportunities in key sectors like agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, education, and services. These booming areas will surely excite businesses and shoppers in both countries. Both teams agreed to keep the fire burning, continuing detailed talks and intercultural work sessions to push this deal through. "Both sides agreed to sustain momentum through inter-sessional work and continue detailed discussions across all chapters with a shared determination to move towards early convergence on the India-New Zealand FTA," the statement concluded. With such fiery enthusiasm and cooperation, the India-New Zealand FTA looks set to be a blockbuster for trade and friendship!