Wenceslaus Anthony –
wanthony@ihug.co.nz
Prime Minister John Key’s ‘NZ Inc India Strategy’ launched in 2011 envisioned the country becoming a core trade, economic, and political partner with India by 2015.
That was a bold aim and we have achieved a lot due to his leadership.
Today the bilateral trade and services figure is around $2 billion, we have travelled quite a lot; however, we have miles to go.
A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is an important part of accelerating the growth in this area and officials are working on their negotiating rounds (10th Round completed) and talks too are happening at the political level.
Along with this, people-to-people business and trade connection are crucial.
In this connection we are pleased to mention that India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) plays a very crucial and important role.
Credible Organisation
INZBC is the only credible, premier 27-year-old organisation that runs through a democratic process for promoting trade and business between India and New Zealand, with its core values of Integrity, Commitment and Transparency.
We will continue to advocate and work towards the direct flight between the two countries. We recently relaunched the Wellington and Christchurch Chapters and intend to establish a Waikato Chapter shortly.
INZBC recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.
Our MoUs are not only on paper, we are committed to all of them.
During the visit of Mr Key to Indian in June 2011, we formed alliances with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Confederation of Indian Industry and Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry. We are pleased to announce that we are entering into an MOU with Punjab, Haryana and Delhi Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
FTA complexity
INZBC has always advocated strongly for high quality FTA. Arvind Mehta, Additional Secretary, Commerce & Industry and Lead Negotiator of the Indian government has honestly said that there are many complexities and that many lawyers and negotiators are involved.
This does not mean that it is not possible.
Wenceslaus Anthony is Head of Government Relations and former Chairman of India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC). The above is a highly edited version of a speech that he gave at the concluding session of the Council’s Agri-Tech Summit 2016 held on June 13, 2016 at Langham Hotel, Auckland. INZBC is a supporting organisation of the Indian Newslink Sir Anand Satyanand Lecture 2016 scheduled to be held on Monday, July 25, 2016 at Pullman Hotel. For more information, please call (09) 3910203. Email: editor@indiannewslink.co.nz
- Wenceslaus Anthony signing a MoU with Dr Rattan Sagar Khanna, Co-Chairman, Agribusiness and Dairy Committee of the Punjab, Haryana & Delhi Chambers of Commerce & Industry in the presence of Mr Key, Mr Mehta, Treasurer Bhav Dhillon and others.
- Prime Minister John Key, National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi (extreme right) and others at the INZBC Agri-Tech Summit held on June 13 at Langham Hotel, Auckland
(Pictures by INZBC)
