Wellington: The first official visit by a top Indian trade official and a 43-member Indian delegation has accelerated trade talks and deepened business ties, a New Zealand government statement said Friday. The visit by India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal featured high-level business meetings, engagements with the New Zealand Indian community, and talks focused on advancing their free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.

According to Namibia Press Agency, an FTA would accelerate the development of new partnerships and bring benefits to both countries. New Zealand Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay stated that Friday’s discussions were constructive, and good progress was made in a number of areas.