Shah Aijaz CNI
TO START NEGOTIATIONS FOR MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL FREE TRADE AGREEMENT(FTA) BETWEEN INDIA & NEW ZEELAND BY MODI GOVT IS A WELLCOME STEP, IT WILL ENHANCE THE TRADE MANY FOLDS BETWWEN TWO COUNTRIES, It was stated by Dr Romesh Khajuria, Chairman, Wool & Woollens Export Promotion Council(WWEPC),
Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India. Dr Khajuria had a detailed discussion with Mr Rob Hewitt, Chairman, Wool Works New Zealand on bilateral trade of wool & woollen products between two nations as Dr Khajuria in a meeting with Mr Rob Hewitt during the reception party here in New Delhi hosted by HE Patrick John Rata High
Commissioner of New Zealand to India in the honour of Prime Minister of New Zealand Mr Christopher Luxon. Dr Khajuria told that woollen manufacturing industry of India requires more than 130 millions of metric tons of wool raw material to cater its
domestic and export markets needs and is heavily dependent on imports of raw wool materials from various countries like New Zealand, China, Australia, South Africa, Mangolia etc. India is importing about more than ninety millions metric ton of wool annually for manufacturing finished products of wool and wool blends for its domestic and export markets needs added by Dr Romesh Khajuria.
At present bilateral trade between India-New Zeeland during 2023-24 was usd 1.54 billion with India’s export at usd 538.3 millions and imports at usd 335.1 millions In the April January of present financial year bilateral trade stood at 1 billion. Where as import of raw wool materials during 2023-24 was usd 38.35 millions Stated by Dr Khajuria.
He also briefed Hon’ble New Zealand Prime Minister Sh Christopher Luxon about the wool trade between two countries and how it can be increased by many folds after FTA(Free Trade Agreement) between two countries.
Dr Romesh Khajuria also called on Sh Todd Mcclay Hon’ble Trade Minister of New Zealand and apprised him about the Indian wool sector and scope of investment in creating wool processing infrastructure in collaboration with Indian wool manufacturers and processors.
Dr Khajuria expressed gratitude to HE Patrick John Rata, high commissioner of New Zealand in India for the invitation and provided an opportunity to interact with the high level delegation lead by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of New Zealand.