The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has welcomed the signing of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, describing it as a significant step toward boosting India’s textile and apparel exports.
The agreement, signed between Piyush Goyal and Todd McClay, is expected to open new avenues for Indian exporters by granting 100% duty-free access to the New Zealand market.
Dr. A. Sakthivel highlighted the importance of this development for the apparel sector.
“This forward-looking agreement is a major boost for India’s apparel exporters. With 100% duty-free access to the New Zealand market, Indian products will gain immediate price competitiveness, particularly in labour-intensive segments such as garments and textiles. This will support higher export volumes, job creation, and growth of MSMEs across the value chain.”
Dr. Sakthivel pointed out that New Zealand imports over USD 1.2 billion worth of ready-made garments annually, with India currently holding a modest share of around 4.4%. He noted that the FTA offers a strong opportunity to expand India’s presence, particularly in categories such as cotton T-shirts, shirts, knitwear, and garments.
He further emphasised that the agreement could potentially triple India’s ready-made garment exports to New Zealand within the next two years, driven by improved competitiveness and market access.
AEPC also stated that the FTA aligns well with India’s strengths in cotton-based apparel while opening opportunities to expand into man-made fibre segments in line with global demand trends.
Highlighting the broader impact, Dr. Sakthivel added:
“The textiles and clothing sector, being one of the largest employment generators in the country, stands to benefit immensely from this agreement. It will strengthen India’s position as a reliable sourcing destination and drive sustainable export growth.”
AEPC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting exporters in leveraging the benefits of the agreement through targeted initiatives, market outreach, and capacity-building programs.
“This agreement opens a new chapter for India’s apparel exports to New Zealand. AEPC will work closely with the industry to translate this opportunity into tangible gains,” Dr. Sakthivel added.
