Formally signed by Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Todd McClay, New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment, the FTA reflects a shared commitment to strengthening economic ties alongside knowledge exchange. Notably, it includes, for the first time, a dedicated Health and

Traditional Medicine Annex, creating an enabling environment for trade in Ayurveda, yoga, and other Ayush services. This provision formally recognises India’s wellness heritage while positioning it alongside indigenous Māori health practices.

The Agreement facilitates market access across multiple service sectors, enabling Indian Ayush practitioners, wellness institutions, and service providers to engage with the New Zealand market. It promotes collaboration across Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homoeopathy, reinforcing India’s role in preventive and integrative healthcare while supporting medical value travel, research partnerships, and global expansion of its wellness ecosystem.

A key feature is the introduction of structured mobility pathways through a dedicated visa quota, allowing Ayush practitioners, yoga instructors, and other professionals to work in New Zealand for extended periods. This strengthens India’s position as a global supplier of skilled wellness professionals and creates new employment opportunities rooted in traditional knowledge systems.

The FTA also institutionalises technical cooperation in traditional medicine, laying the groundwork for long-term collaboration in education, training, standards, and wellness services. Overall, the Agreement represents a decisive move in taking Ayush from national heritage to the global healthcare mainstream, aligning trade, culture, and healthcare in a unified vision of holistic well-being.