India FTA ‘will be more than just sheepmeat exports'
New Zealand's red meat sector is looking at exporting more than sheepmeat products to India when a comprehensive free trade agreement is secured between the two countries.
The NZTE delegation, led by New Zealand's High Commissioner to India Grahame Morton, hopes to boost trade and enterprise between the two countries and raise the profile of New Zealand's hosting of the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Former New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming is also part of the delegation.
Global meat exporter and processor Alliance Group says it is also joining the delegation to mark one year since officially launching its Pure South lamb in the country.
Alliance Group currently sends Pure South premium lamb to India through its exclusive supply deal with Quality New Zealand Ltd (QualityNZ) and both companies are using the visit to strengthen ties with customers in the emerging market. QualityNZ's shareholders include the current New Zealand cricket stars Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori and Fleming.
Murray Brown, general manager marketing at Alliance Group, says the three-day visit to New Delhi and Mumbai is an excellent opportunity to meet with customers in the food service trade, top hotels/restaurants and new retail outlets and also negotiate additional contracts.
"Although it is still early days, India is showing promising signs as a market for highest-quality New Zealand lamb. We are using our global experience and knowledge of exporting to 65 countries around the world to work with QualityNZ to develop the market further, particularly among India's growing middle class."
Geoff Allott, chief executive of QualityNZ, said: "We see tremendous potential for the best quality New Zealand sheepmeat in India and we are already seeing solid demand. Indian consumers value lamb's taste, tenderness, nutritional qualities and ease of cooking. The country is also an extremely important market for protein."
The delegation's itinerary includes a Business Roundtable function, networking event and a meeting with a local business group in Mumbai. Some members of the delegation are also visiting Sri Lanka.
