NZITA Relaunches to Strengthen New Zealand–India Business Links

nzitaonline
Nov 8
2 min read

Auckland, October30, 2025 — The New Zealand India Trade Alliance (NZITA) marked a significant milestone this week with its official relaunch event, bringing together business leaders, diplomats, and community members committed to deepening ties between the two nations.

Opening the evening, Aldrin Thayalakal, Director of NZITA, reflected on the organisation’s journey since its founding in 2015. “NZITA was once an active platform for advocacy, delegations, and trade promotion. Post-Covid, momentum slowed as several founding members moved on. But with renewed engagement between India and New Zealand, and a Free Trade Agreement on the horizon, there’s a clear need to re-energise this network,” he said.

The event also marked a leadership transition, with Giri Gupta, long-serving Chair of NZITA, stepping down after years of service. In recognition, he was presented with a token of appreciation for his contribution to the Alliance’s establishment and growth.

It was an excellent opportunity to welcome the new directors: Ken Pereira, Hema Sridhar, and Ravi Mehta. Aldrin expressed his gratitude to them for the wide range of talent they bring.

Special guest Dr Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India in Auckland, addressed the gathering, highlighting the growing opportunities for collaboration and the importance of business-to-business partnerships in advancing bilateral ties.

The evening featured a keynote from Phil O’Reilly, Managing Director of Iron Duke Partners and former CEO of BusinessNZ, who shared insights from his global experience and the importance of India in the complex geopolitical conditions.

As part of its new strategic direction, NZITA announced two initial focus sectors: the Visitor Economy and Technology.

Lisa Hopkins, Chief Executive of Business Events Industry Aotearoa, spoke on the potential of the visitor economy, noting the surge in outbound Indian travellers and the opportunities for New Zealand to attract high-value visitors and diaspora tourism.
Patrick Kouwenhoven from Infosys NZ provided insights into the fast-growing technology sector and the role of digital partnerships in strengthening business links between the two countries.

The event concluded on a note of optimism, with renewed energy and clear purpose to make NZITA a catalyst for meaningful economic collaboration between New Zealand and India.