NZ Apples Head to India: Apple Action Plan Gets a Leader
A seasoned horticulturist has been appointed to deliver the Apple Action Plan, a key initiative of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.
Under the agreement, the tariff on kiwifruit exports into India is removed on up to 15,000 tonnes a year. The tariff on all volume above that is halved to 16.5 percent, down from 33 percent.
Zespri CEO Jason Te Brake said India is a strategically important market, with growing consumer demand for healthy, premium fruit.
“While interest in kiwifruit continues to grow, high tariffs have historically constrained sales and limited investment in market development. The FTA provides greater certainty to invest in building demand and grow the category in India over the long term,” Te Brake said.
Benefits from the 2027 Season
Te Brake said Zespri is investing to build the market from next year. The current New Zealand sales season is coming to an end, and growers will benefit from reduced tariffs from the 2027 season. Work continues on an industry-funded support programme for Indian green kiwifruit growers.
“India is home to more than 1.4 billion people and is one of the world’s fastest-growing large economies. We see enormous potential to bring premium, healthy kiwifruit to more consumers while delivering strong value back to New Zealand growers,” he said.
He said improved market access gives Zespri confidence to keep investing, strengthen partnerships with customers and distributors, and lift awareness of kiwifruit among Indian consumers.
Kiwifruit Action Plan Launched
The Kiwifruit Action Plan (KAP) has been launched as a key deliverable under the FTA. It is a five-year programme focused solely on green kiwifruit, funded by New Zealand kiwifruit growers and delivered by the Bioeconomy Science Institute. It aims to support the development of India’s kiwifruit industry and grow overall consumer demand for kiwifruit there.
The programme is built on the complementary nature of the two industries, as Indian-grown and New Zealand-grown kiwifruit are available at different times of the year.
It involves working alongside Indian kiwifruit growers in rural communities to improve production and supply chain performance. A key focus is establishing Centres of Excellence, or model orchards, in key growing regions to demonstrate best practice and provide training tailored to Indian conditions. The first two are under establishment in Nagaland and Uttarakhand.
“The Centres of Excellence demonstrate the industry’s commitment to ensuring the benefits of the agreement are shared by growers and communities in both countries,” Te Brake said.
“This partnership is about creating value on both sides. We believe that by working together we can create lasting benefits for growers, consumers and communities in both countries.”
Acknowledgements
Zespri also acknowledged the New Zealand and Indian governments, negotiators and officials whose work helped secure the agreement.
“Trade is critical to New Zealand’s prosperity. New opportunities like this will enable New Zealand exports and support jobs and communities. We have strong confidence in India and expect the deal to deliver significant benefits over time,” Te Brake said.
