Thursday, 30 November 2023 09:56

McClay to visit India

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay. Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.

Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay plans to visit India in the next fortnight, his first trade mission since the formation of the Government.

McClay told the US Business Summit in Auckland today that a free trade deal (FTA) with India is “some unfinished business” for NZ.

He notes that countries including Australia have done trade deals with India recently.

“Some of these deals are at different scales, but we can’t be left behind,” he says.

Trade Missions are a priority for the new Government. McClay hopes to lead more trade missions in the next three years than any other previous governments.

He says NZ has 15 FTAs in place and the Government will also look at how to improve these deals.

“But first we have to look at how we can sell more of our products overseas,” he says.

“We have to roll up our sleeves and start selling some more.”

McClay says he has asked his officials for a list of potential countries where trade missions could be led.

He says the Government wants to start trade missions straight away rather than leaving it until the final year, just before the next elections.

“I will be visiting India before the end of the year: we made a commitment to do this during the election campaign and we will honour that commitment.”

More like this

RSE Scheme Changes Coming - McClay

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.

Government Mulling Plan Change 1 Intervention

The Government is looking at intervening on behalf of Waikato farmers who face new regulations around agricultural land use while Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms are underway.

Featured

Editorial: The Value of Credibility

OPINION: In politics, credibility is and should be big. It must surely rank higher than charisma, which is quite trite and superficial. Yet, voters nowadays are often wooed and influenced by how someone looks or talks at a superficial level. TV plays a huge role in this.

Kaikōura Families Get School Run Lifeline After Storm

Kaikōura families affected by July's severe storm have found a practical solution to a problem that's kept some children away from regular schooling for weeks: a washed-out section of Inland Kaikōura Road, which has stopped the local school bus from running its usual route.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

'LinkedIn Greens'

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…

UK Warning

OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter