The government agency charged with helping New Zealand businesses to grow overseas is ramping up efforts to strengthen ties with India through the second phase of its Illuminate India programme.
Launched last year, the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise programme aims to provide Kiwi exporters with a structured learning pathway to navigate India's dynamic business environment.
The Go India segment in 2025 is expected to feature two immersive programmes in March and May that have been designed to accelerate market understanding and entry.
"Illuminate India takes New Zealand exporters through three tailored stages: Know India, Go India and Grow India," said Graham Rouse, New Zealand's Trade commissioner and consul general for India and South Asia.
"These stages are designed for market understanding, immersion and, ultimately, market entry and acceleration."
Rouse highlighted the Go India segment as a curated, multi-day immersion programme.
"It's crafted to expose well-positioned New Zealand businesses to India's fast-growing economy, enabling them to learn in days what could otherwise take months or longer to achieve," he said.
The programme aimed to address outdated market perceptions of the South Asian giant, Rouse said.
"We've observed increased interest in India, but market knowledge is often low," he said. "Go India is designed to bridge this gap."
Graham Rouse is the New Zealand trade commissioner and consul-general for India and South Asia. Photo: Supplied
NZTE has identified two broad sectors of focus: technology and manufacturing, and food, beverage and consumer goods (FBCG).
Within the technology and manufacturing space, areas of opportunity include IT services, software as a service, digital transformation, agritech, horticulture, infrastructure and green technologies.
"Government initiatives in India are driving demand by making it easier and more attractive to do business, while enhancing the country's manufacturing capabilities and trade across industries," Rouse said.
In the FBCG sector, India's position as the world's fifth-largest consumer market is a key draw.
Household consumption nearly doubled in a decade to reach US$2.1 trillion in 2023 on the back of urbanization, rising disposable incomes and changing lifestyles.
The Illuminate India programme builds on recent diplomatic milestones.
In March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters visited India and, in August, welcomed Indian President Droupadi Murmu during a three-day state visit to New Zealand.
Trade Minister Todd McClay has been particularly active, making four visits to India last year and meeting his Indian counterpart, Piyush Goyal, three times abroad.
"Ultimately, the [Illuminate India] programme aims to increase the number of New Zealand exporters ready to enter and grow in India," Rouse said. "This will foster trade, partnerships and mutual understanding between the two nations."
Sunil Kaushal is general manager of the India New Zealand Business Council. Photo: Supplied
Sunny Kaushal, general manager of the India New Zealand Business Council, praised NZTE's renewed focus on India.
"Kudos to NZTE for rethinking their strategy on India," Kaushal said. "Initiatives like this will excite New Zealand exporters."
Kaushal expressed optimism about Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's anticipated visit to India in 2025.
"We hope not just the prime minister, but other ministers also visit India to strengthen ties," he said.
However, Kaushal highlighted a need for tangible progress.
"I hope 2025 will finally see the distance between the two nations bridged with a direct flight," he said.
"We may be a nation of just over 5 million, but we play an integral part in the Pacific," he added, expressing hope for a stronger bilateral relationship moving forward.