# India's Pacific tour and India-NZ FTA implementation > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/indias-pacific-and-new-zealand-diplomatic-tour > Updated: 2026-10-26T00:58:23.000Z. Sources: 31. Developments: 4. Indian Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, commenced a diplomatic tour of the Pacific region, beginning with a visit to Samoa. This visit, the first by an Indian government minister to Samoa in 56 years, focused on deepening political engagement and development cooperation through the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC). Key discussions included health sector cooperation and the inspection of India-backed development initiatives. In Samoa, Margherita also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support persons with disabilities. Following the Pacific leg, Margherita traveled to New Zealand, where he met with New Zealand Minister of Police Mark Mitchell in Auckland to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly within the textile and fashion sectors. During a business event organized by the India New Zealand Business Council, Margherita promoted the ‘5F formula’—Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion, and Fashion to Foreign—to expand India’s textile value chain. On October 20, 2026, the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) officially entered into force. The pact aims to double bilateral trade in goods and services to 7 billion NZD by 2030 and is expected to attract 20 billion USD in investment into India over the next 15 years. Under the deal, India provides zero-duty access to 100% of its current exports to New Zealand, benefiting sectors such as textiles, leather, footwear, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, and agriculture. To protect domestic interests, sensitive sectors like India's dairy industry have been excluded. New Zealand exporters will see approximately 57% of exports to India become tariff-free immediately, with the intention of eventually covering 95% of current exports. ## Claims - A total of 95% of current New Zealand exports to India will have tariffs removed or reduced. (disputed by 2 sources) - New Zealand exports to India will see tariffs removed on approximately 57% of goods immediately. (disputed) - Indian exporters receive 100 percent duty-free access to the New Zealand market. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into force on October 20, 2026. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Pabitra Margherita met with New Zealand Minister of Police Mark Mitchell in Auckland. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The meeting between Margherita and Mitchell took place during an India New Zealand Business Council event in Auckland. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Margherita promoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 5F textile formula during the business interaction. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The 5F formula consists of Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion, and Fashion to Foreign. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Margherita interacted with the Indian diaspora in Samoa and New Zealand. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Tariffs on New Zealand wine in India will reduce from 150% to between 25% and 50% over ten years. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The FTA allows New Zealand businesses to reach over one billion customers with lower levies. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The agreement aims to attract 20 billion USD in investment into India over the next 15 years. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-26: India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement takes effect The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement has launched, reducing wine tariffs and establishing new skilled worker visa pathways, though critics question the effectiveness of the migration provisions. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/india-new-zealand-free-trade-agreement-takes-effect ### 2026-10-19: India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement enters into force The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement has officially come into effect, aiming to double bilateral trade by 2030 and attract $20 billion in investment into India through significant tariff reductions. 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/india-and-new-zealand-launch-free-trade-agreement ### 2026-10-16: India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement enters into force The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement entered into force on October 20, 2026, eliminating duties on 100% of Indian exports to New Zealand and significantly reducing tariffs for New Zealand goods. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pabitra-margherita-meets-new-zealand-minister-to-strengthen-bilateral-ties ### 2026-10-15: India's Pabitra Margherita begins diplomatic tour in Samoa Indian Minister Pabitra Margherita has begun a three-nation Pacific tour, starting with a historic visit to Samoa to strengthen bilateral ties and development cooperation. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-pabitra-margherita-begins-diplomatic-tour-in-samoa --- Cite as: India's Pacific tour and India-NZ FTA implementation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/indias-pacific-and-new-zealand-diplomatic-tour