Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday, 27 April held a structured interaction with the heads of several Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) in New Delhi, focusing on sector-specific trade priorities and how Indian exporters can better utilise the free trade agreements (FTAs) India has concluded in recent years.

Key Priorities Discussed

Goyal said the meeting centred on understanding sector-level challenges and hearing actionable feedback from industry representatives. "Discussed sector-specific priorities and heard their constructive feedback on enabling more Indian businesses to export and unlock opportunities in the global trade landscape," the minister posted on social media platform X.

He added that the session also explored avenues for exporters to leverage the various FTAs India has concluded in the recent past to widen market access and boost exports. The emphasis on FTA utilisation comes at a time when India has been accelerating its trade agreement pipeline across multiple geographies.

India-New Zealand FTA in Focus

Separately, Goyal addressed the India-New Zealand Business Forum alongside his New Zealand counterpart, Todd McClay, underlining the complementary strengths of the two economies. He highlighted India's vast market, skilled talent, digital capabilities, and manufacturing strengths as natural complements to New Zealand's expertise in agri-tech, clean energy, and fintech.

"The strong participation and ideas shared by business leaders from both sides highlighted the vast potential for deeper trade, investment, and innovation-led collaboration among our nations," Goyal said.

The India-New Zealand FTA, concluded in a record nine months, is being described as a significant milestone in bilateral relations. Current bilateral trade stands at an estimated $1.3 billion in goods and $634 million in services, with both sides targeting a combined figure of $5 billion over the next five years. A Indian diaspora of nearly 3,00,000 people in New Zealand is seen as a key bridge in deepening this partnership.

Investment Commitments and Strategic Context

The FTA also includes a provision under which New Zealand will invest $20 billion in India over 15 years — a structure comparable to the $100 billion investment commitment made by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as part of its own FTA with India.

According to an industry body, the agreement underscores India's strategic diversification across the Indo-Pacific and its commitment to building resilient, inclusive, and future-ready economic partnerships — particularly relevant in a global environment marked by trade uncertainties and shifting supply chains.

Broader Export Strategy

The EPC meeting and the New Zealand forum together reflect a concerted push by the Commerce Ministry to translate signed FTAs into tangible export gains. Notably, India has faced criticism in the past for signing trade deals that domestic exporters have underutilised due to lack of awareness or complex rules-of-origin requirements. The ministry's renewed focus on EPC engagement suggests an effort to bridge that implementation gap.

With multiple FTAs now active or in advanced negotiation — including with the United Kingdom and the European Union — the coming months will test whether Indian exporters can convert expanded market access into measurable growth in outbound trade.