Santa's present for the primary sector - an FTA with India
Primary sector leaders have welcomed the announcement of a Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand.
Every year, the NZ meat industry requires around 250 halal processing people with approximately 100 of the roles typically filled by New Zealand residents or those with open work visas.
But the closure of the country's borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic means migrant halal butchers and boners are unavailable and the industyr is encouraging Muslim New Zealanders to consider a career in the red meat sector.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says halal butchers are critical to supporting NZ's meat processing industry, especially in regional communities where many plants are located.
"Halal processing is a core part of the New Zealand meat processing industry with approximately 43% of New Zealand total red meat exports halal certified Muslim consumers. These contribute approximately $3.3 billion in export earnings."
