India and New Zealand are set to sign a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) aimed at enhancing trade and investment opportunities between the two nations. On the eve of the signing, India's Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand's minister for trade and investment Todd McClay engaged with industry leaders in Agra, highlighting the FTA's potential benefits. The agreement will eliminate duties on 100% of Indian exports to New Zealand, significantly benefiting sectors like leather and footwear, where Agra accounts for around 75% of India's production. The leather sector alone is projected to grow to $50 billion by 2030, driven by a shift to high-value manufacturing. Additionally, the FTA includes provisions for expedited regulatory access in pharmaceuticals and a dedicated chapter on traditional healthcare systems, marking a first for India's Ayush systems. This pact, concluded in just nine months, reflects a strategic partnership, with bilateral trade rising to $1.3 billion in FY25, up from $873 million the previous year.