India-New Zealand FTA to increase exports of textiles, clothing: CITI
By jayesh chouhan 2025-12-23 12:01:30
India–NZ FTA to Boost Textile, Apparel Exports: CITI
The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) warmly welcomes the completion of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and New Zealand, as it will greatly benefit the country's textile and clothing sector, which is looking to expand into new markets.
The India-New Zealand FTA will give zero-duty market access to 100 percent of India's exports. In 2024, India was the third largest exporter of textile and clothing products to New Zealand after China and Bangladesh. India's textile and clothing exports to New Zealand in 2024 were $138.65 million.
CITI Chairman Ashwin Chandran said in a statement, "Less than a week after the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Oman, the completion of FTA negotiations between India and New Zealand demonstrates India's focus on market diversification for trade and services. For the textile and apparel sector, this certainly means greater market access opportunities. The industry is deeply engaged with these new FTA partners. will have to focus on diversification of its product basket.”
Chandran added, "CITI would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister, Commerce Minister and all concerned authorities for expeditiously concluding the FTA negotiations with New Zealand, which have huge potential for Indian textile and clothing products."
The CITI Chairman said that the India-New Zealand FTA will help India's textile and apparel exporters, who are actively working on a diversification agenda, reduce their dependence on select markets and help the country achieve its national target of $100 billion in textile and apparel exports by 2030. He said the FTA with New Zealand would increase market access for Indian companies, making Indian textile and clothing products more attractive and price competitive to existing and potential buyers there.
In July, India signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the United Kingdom. India is also in the advanced stage of FTA negotiations with the European Union and other countries. In addition, a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the United States is being negotiated. India's textile and clothing exports in the fiscal year 2024-25 were about $38 billion.
