Dr Rahul Sen explains that once the agreement takes effect, likely by the end of this year or early next year, key New Zealand exports such as forestry, wool, sheep meat, hides, and skins will be tariff-free in India. Over the next 5–10 years, nearly 95% of New Zealand’s exports are expected to gain tariff-free access to the Indian market. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilzV4ohlBX4&t=1s

Dr. Rahul Sen highlights that the agreement creates a major opportunity for New Zealand’s dairy sector, especially dairy ingredients, to partner with India’s vast dairy industry, not just to increase volumes but to improve quality. He emphasises that the deal is unique in focusing on quality enhancement and collaboration, including setting up centres of excellence to strengthen India’s agricultural produce. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilzV4ohlBX4&t=1s

Dr. Rahul Sen describes the deal as far more than a traditional FTA, emphasising that it goes beyond trade in goods and services to include mobility, investment, and broader economic and strategic cooperation, effectively making it a comprehensive strategic economic partnership. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilzV4ohlBX4&t=1s

Dr. Rahul Sen, Senior Lecturer at Auckland University of Technology, explains that once the agreement comes into force, New Zealand’s key exports like forestry, wool, sheep meat, hides, and skins will immediately become tariff-free in India, with nearly 95% of its exports expected to gain tariff-free access over the next 5–10 years. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilzV4ohlBX4&t=1s

Pradeep Chauhan, Vice Admiral (Retd.), argues that the blue economy is not merely an “ocean economy” contributing a share to GDP, but the entire economy viewed through an ocean-centric lens. He calls for “blueing” the economy across the country and regionally, emphasizing that since there is only one interconnected world ocean—despite multiple basins—economic thinking must reflect this unity. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvO0mrJWzZ0

Pradeep Chauhan, Vice Admiral (Retd.), notes that Bangladesh’s conventional submarines are classic sea-denial assets meant to temporarily prevent adversaries from using certain maritime areas, raising uncomfortable strategic questions for India about their intended target. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvO0mrJWzZ0

In this interview with Dr. Rahul Sen, Senior Lecturer at the Auckland University of Technology, we take a deep dive into the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and why it is being described as one of the most significant trade deals signed by New Zealand in recent years. This conversation unpacks both the economic and geopolitical stakes of the agreement. Dr Sen explains: • Why this FTA is strategically important for New Zealand’s trade diversification efforts • Which sectors, including agriculture, services, and high-value exports, stand to gain the most • How quickly New Zealand exporters can realistically expect to see benefits • Why the agreement has faced backlash within New Zealand, and what concerns are driving domestic debate • The contentious dairy sector, why even limited market access in India is seen as unprecedented from India’s perspective, yet insufficient by some in New Zealand • What India gains from this agreement economically, politically, and strategically in the Indo-Pacific We also explore the difference in perception between the two countries: for India, dairy remains one of the most politically sensitive and tightly protected sectors; for New Zealand, expanded access is central to the commercial logic of the deal. Is the compromise fully understood on both sides? Beyond tariffs, this discussion situates the FTA within the broader Indo-Pacific trade architecture and shifting global supply chains. Is this a strategic masterstroke that reshapes India–New Zealand economic ties? Or a politically delicate agreement that will take time to prove its value? Watch for a detailed, policy-focused breakdown of what could become a defining chapter in India–New Zealand relations. Chapters - 0:00-1:08 Introduction 1:11-3:47 Understanding the India–New Zealand FTA 4:10-7:24 Why This FTA Is a Game-Changer for New Zealand 8:03-13:33 Beyond Agriculture: Sectoral Impact of the India–New Zealand FTA 13:49-20:17 What Sparked the Backlash in New Zealand? 21:09-26:43 Why Dairy Is the Most Controversial Part of This Deal 26:45-27:32 Closing #india #newzealand #freetradeagreement #fyp #internationalrelations #foreignaffairs #geopolitics #trade #economics

Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan (Retd.) explains that the blue economy isn’t limited to coastal areas even inland activities, like a factory in Sonipat, can pollute water systems that eventually reach the ocean, meaning the blue economy is essentially the entire economy, not just selected sectors. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvO0mrJWzZ0