India and New Zealand have taken a significant step towards enhancing trade facilitation with the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) concerning Electronic Origin Data Exchange of Trade in Goods. The agreement was signed by India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS), aiming to strengthen customs cooperation and facilitate bilateral trade between the two countries. The MoC was signed under the India-New Zealand FTA which entered into force from October 20, 2026.
The MoC reflects the shared commitment of India and New Zealand to leverage digitalisation and enhanced information exchange for more efficient, secure and predictable cross-border trade. By enabling the advance electronic exchange of origin data on trade in goods, the arrangement will deepen customs cooperation and support the effective implementation of trade facilitation measures. The initiative also reflects a forward-looking approach to align bilateral customs cooperation with evolving international practices in digitalisation, information exchange and trade facilitation.
The electronic exchange of origin data is expected to improve operational efficiency, reduce information gaps and provide greater certainty to traders engaged in bilateral trade. Further, the arrangement will support the effective utilisation of trade preferences under the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and help ensure that the benefits negotiated under the Agreement reach eligible businesses in both countries more efficiently and with greater certainty.