FTA with New Zealand to provide huge opportunities for Agra’s leather exporters: Goyal
Goyal is here with visiting New Zealand Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay.
Ministers held talks with businesses from different sectors, including leather and sports goods.
The FTA aims to double bilateral trade, facilitate duty-free access for Indian companies to the island nation’s markets and bring in investments worth US$ 20 billion over the next 15 years.
“Goods exported from India to New Zealand will not be subject to any duty, creating significant opportunities including in Agra’s leather industry and other sectors,” Goyal said. Goyal said, adding that the agreement will promote two-way trade worth approximately US$ 2.4 billion.
Agra is one of India’s largest leather and footwear clusters and plays an important role in both domestic supply and exports.
It is dominated by MSMEs. The industry will have duty-free access to the New Zealand market once the trade agreement comes into effect. India and New Zealand are set to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) on Monday, which is expected to boost trade between the two countries in the coming months, he added.
Talking about political issues, the Union Commerce and Industry Minister expressed confidence that NDA will form governments in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
He also criticized the Aam Aadmi Party.
“There is a corrupt group around Arvind Kejriwal and it is natural for them (seven AAP Rajya Saha MPs) to leave the party. It is possible that more people may leave in the future,” he said.
Meanwhile, two ministers visited the Taj Mahal here. They arrived with their wives around 7 a.m. and spent about two hours at the monument. Here a guide told them about the history of the monument.
Goyal said McClay and his wife expressed their desire to see the monument, and then the visit was planned.
