While it was still early days, India was showing ''promising signs'' as a market for high quality New Zealand lamb, Alliance Group marketing general manager Murray Brown said.
Alliance Group had a supply deal with Quality New Zealand Ltd, whose shareholders include ex Black Caps skippers Daniel Vettori and Stephen Fleming (also Chennai Super Kings cricket team coach) and current skipper Brendon McCullum.
QualityNZ was established to provide New Zealand products and services to Indian consumers, with a specific focus on the food and beverage, tourism and education sectors.
A three-day visit to New Delhi and Mumbai was an excellent opportunity to meet customers in the food service trade, hotels and retail outlets and negotiate new contracts, Mr Brown said.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy is leading the six-day trade mission, which includes a visit to Sri Lanka.
Fonterra, Zespri, Pipfruit NZ, Sports and Leisure (Tiger Turf), ATEED, CERA, Christchurch International Airport, Fisher and Paykel Appliances, India NZ Business Council, International Aviation Academy NZ, Menumate, QualityNZ, and Serko are also represented.
It was an opportunity to profile New Zealand's co-hosting of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup and a chance to promote our ''world-class'' agricultural products, high-tech services and hospitality, Mr Guy said.
New Zealand's exports to Sri Lanka were valued at about $288 million each year and $594 million to India, but there was scope to expand trade in both markets, Mr Guy said.
