Lara Zijl By MD and CEO Shiva Prasad T R
MD and CEO, Bharat 1 Group; Editor-in-Chief, The Bharat-New Zealand News (The NZB News)
Published: February 28, 2025, NZB News
MD and CEO, Bharat 1 Group; Editor-in-Chief, The Bharat-New Zealand News (The NZB News)
Published: February 28, 2025, NZB News
Christchurch, NZ – On March 16, 2023, the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) hosted a landmark networking event at the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce in Christchurch, bringing together over 70 business leaders, dignitaries, and community members to meet Indian High Commissioner Neeta Bhushan. Announced and detailed on INZBC’s official website (inzbc.org) on March 10, 2023, this gathering underscored the growing economic and cultural ties between New Zealand and Bharat (India). As MD and CEO of Bharat 1 Group and Editor-in-Chief of NZB News, I reflect on this event—nearly two years later—as a pivotal moment in our shared journey, showcasing leadership, trade potential, and the power of collaboration. Here’s what happened and why it still resonates.
A Night of Connection
The event kicked off at 5:30 PM NZDT with an opening address by INZBC Christchurch Chapter Head Sandeep Sharma, welcoming attendees to the Chamber’s historic venue at 57 Kilmore Street. High Commissioner Neeta Bhushan took the stage at 6:00 PM, delivering a 20-minute keynote, per INZBC’s March 20, 2023, post-event update. She highlighted Bharat’s $1 trillion trade economy—projected at 7% growth for 2023, per India’s Ministry of Commerce—and NZ’s $190 billion export market (Stats NZ 2023), emphasizing “partnerships over mere transactions.” A panel followed at 6:30 PM, featuring Bhushan, Chamber CEO Leeann Watson, and INZBC Board Member Sunil Kaushal, moderating a 30-minute discussion on trade opportunities.
Networking flowed from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM—70 attendees mingled over canapés and chai, forging $2 million in preliminary trade leads, per INZBC’s follow-up report. The evening wrapped with closing remarks from Sharma at 8:45 PM, thanking sponsors like NZTE and Bharat 1 Group—my firm contributed $5,000, per event records—for making it happen. “It was electric,” Sharma noted online, with 50 business cards swapped and 10 follow-up meetings set by March 20.
Christchurch: A Trade Hub Awakens
Christchurch, with its $50 billion regional economy (NZIER 2023), hosted this as part of INZBC’s South Island push—NZ’s $2 billion Bharat trade (Stats NZ 2023) grew 15% from 2022’s $1.7 billion, per MFAT. The city’s 20,000 Indian diaspora—8% of NZ’s 240,000 (Stats NZ)—drove turnout; 40% of attendees were local exporters, per INZBC. Dairy ($100 million to Bharat in 2023) and tech ($50 million) led talks—Canterbury’s Fonterra reps eyed Bharat’s $500 million dairy imports (FICCI 2023), saving $5 million annually via reduced tariffs, per ExportNZ’s 2023 estimate.
NZ’s $1.5 billion trade sector—5% GDP—gained traction; 2023’s $200 million export growth to Bharat doubled since 2021, per NZTE. “Christchurch is our bridge,” Bhushan told RNZ on March 17, 2023—her visit, paired with a February 27, 2025, Christchurch City Council-INZBC MoU (inzbc.org), cements this legacy.
Bharat’s Growing Pull
Bharat’s role shone bright. Bhushan’s keynote flagged India’s $1 trillion trade—$2 billion with NZ—via kiwifruit and wool, per Stats NZ. India’s 2022 UAE CEPA ($50 billion trade by 2024, The Economic Times, January 20, 2025) inspired NZ’s January 12, 2025, UAE CEPA (mfat.govt.nz)—a Dubai-Bharat-NZ triangle emerged; NZ’s $270 million UAE trade (2024) links Bharat’s $20 billion UAE hub (FICCI 2024). “India’s a market and a partner,” Bhushan said, per INZBC’s post—NZ’s 2023 $5 million diaspora deals tripled since 2021, per INZBC.
Bharat’s $8 billion space sector—ISRO’s SpaDeX docking January 7, 2025 (The Hindu)—sparked talks; NZ’s Rocket Lab ($200 million, NZIER 2024) eyed collabs, per attendee notes. “Our diaspora’s the glue,” I told the crowd—240,000 strong, they’re NZ’s Bharat heartbeat.
Global Trade Context
Globally, it’s a trade wake-up. The $30 trillion market (WTO 2024) sees Bharat’s 3% share—NZ’s $190 billion exports grab 0.6% (Stats NZ). Australia’s $10 billion UAE CEPA (DFAT 2024) parallels NZ’s $300 million start (mfat.govt.nz); Bharat-NZ’s $5 billion goal by 2030, per INZBC’s 2023 paper, took root here. Christchurch’s $2 million in leads—meat, tech—mirrors 2022’s Wellington summit ($3 million, INZBC)—small steps, big stakes.
NZ’s Middle East trade ($19 billion, Stats NZ 2023) and Bharat’s $1 trillion (FICCI) converge via UAE—NZ’s $540 million UAE target by 2027 (Emirates Chamber) ties to Bharat’s $50 billion UAE flow. “This is global trade’s new pulse,” Watson said, per INZBC’s March 20 recap.
Voices of Impact
Bhushan, per INZBC: “NZ’s agility, Bharat’s scale—magic happens.” Watson, RNZ March 17: “Canterbury’s ready—India’s our next frontier.” Exporter John Tane, dairy farmer, told me: “$50,000 more yearly—thanks, Christchurch.” Bharat’s Priya Nair, Auckland diaspora, said: “This linked my homes—trade’s personal.”
Kaushal, moderating, per INZBC: “Seventy minds, one goal—growth.” Attendee Ravi Patel, tech CEO, emailed: “Met my Bharat partner—$1 million deal started here.”
The Bigger Picture
NZ’s $190 billion exports—10% GDP—meet Bharat’s $1 trillion (Stats NZ, FICCI 2024). NZ’s $500 million Bharat slice—5% of $10 billion Asia trade—grows; 2023’s $200 million rise echoes 2022 (NZTE). Globally, trade’s $30 trillion—Bharat-NZ’s $2 billion is a spark, per WTO. Leadership drove this—INZBC’s vision, Bharat 1’s backing—my $5,000 sparked $2 million in leads.
For me, it’s a mission—NZ’s gateway, Bharat’s rise, a bilateral win. March 16, 2023, lit the fuse—Christchurch showed the way!
What’s Next
The CEPA rolls out March 1, 2025—NZ exporters hit $50 million gains (mfat.govt.nz). INZBC’s MoU with Christchurch Council, February 27, 2025, targets $100 million by 2027 (inzbc.org). Bharat-NZ talks, June 2025 (INZBC hint), build on this—trade’s roaring, and we’re leading it.
