New Delhi: In a significant step towards enhancing agricultural cooperation, India’s Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, met with Todd McClay, New Zealand’s Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Trade, and Associate Minister for Foreign Affairs, along with his delegation at Krishi Bhavan today. The high-level bilateral meeting focused on key areas of mutual interest and opportunities for collaboration between the two nations.
The discussions centered on sharing information about the agricultural priorities of both countries and exploring new avenues for partnership. A key highlight of the meeting was the proposed Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on horticulture, which both ministers expressed a strong commitment to advancing. This MoC is expected to further deepen the agricultural partnership between India and New Zealand, a relationship that has seen significant progress in recent years.
Minister Chouhan expressed his appreciation for New Zealand’s proactive efforts in strengthening ties with India. He acknowledged the historical, business, and cultural connections between the two nations and the significant contributions of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand. The minister also noted the increasing educational exchanges between the countries as a testament to their growing relationship.
The meeting, which was also attended by the High Commissioner of New Zealand to India, Patrick Rata, and senior officials from both countries, resulted in several positive developments regarding trade and market access. New Zealand’s support for the import of Indian pomegranates and the lifting of restrictions on mango exports were warmly acknowledged. Minister Chouhan expressed hope for the swift approval of the newly audited Vapor Heat Treatment (VHT) facilities in Lucknow and Delhi, which would further enhance the export of Indian mangoes to New Zealand.
In addition to these developments, McClay thanked the Indian government for the recent resumption of pine log exports from New Zealand to India, which had previously faced fumigation-related challenges. Minister Chouhan reiterated India’s support for continuing cooperation in this area and emphasized the potential for expanding trade in other agricultural products, including fresh and dried fruits such as oranges and bananas. He specifically mentioned the need for early market access for Indian grapes to New Zealand, a move that could significantly boost bilateral trade.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of technical cooperation in Research and Development, particularly in horticulture and cage fisheries. Both ministers recognized the vast potential for collaboration in these sectors and reaffirmed their commitment to working closely to strengthen economic and trade ties, benefiting farmers, producers, and consumers in both countries.