India-New Zealand FTA Boosts Textile Exports: SIMA Praises Zero-Duty Access and Market Growth
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The Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) has praised the recently concluded India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), saying it will significantly help India’s textile and apparel industry grow and compete better in global markets.
Under this new agreement, India’s textile and apparel products will get zero-duty access to the New Zealand market. This means Indian exporters will not have to pay import taxes when selling their textiles in New Zealand, making their products more competitive and attractive to buyers there.
SIMA said this is a timely and important step for strengthening India’s global trade position, especially for the textiles sector, which is one of the largest employers and producers in the world. About 80 % of India’s textile capacity is in the MSME (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) sector, and the agreement is expected to support these businesses by boosting market access, export diversification, and value-added product opportunities.
SIMA Chairman Durai Palanisamy thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ministers for concluding this trade deal, calling it a landmark achievement. He pointed out that while India exported textiles worth around USD 36.9 billion globally in 2024-25, its exports to New Zealand were approximately USD 103 million. With zero-duty access, these exports are expected to grow faster, especially since New Zealand’s annual textile imports from the world amount to about USD 1.9 billion.
The agreement is also seen as important for employment generation and helping Indian manufacturers expand into value-added segments like fabrics, garments and Home textiles. New Zealand is considered a developed market with stable demand and high quality standards, offering Indian companies a chance to grow in higher-value product categories.
Overall, SIMA believes this FTA will boost exports, strengthen India’s global presence, support MSMEs, and contribute to the country’s goal of expanding its textile industry’s size and reach in the coming years.
10:56 AM, Dec 26
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