North Otago businessman Jonathan Manuel was one of 30 invited from New Zealand companies as part of a delegation to the "once in a generation" event.
Mr Manuel, who operates the largest flight training school in New Zealand with co-director Celroy Mascarenhas, said "it was nice that a business from Oamaru was there to be part of the delegation for the signing of the FTA".
The trade deal was signed by Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay and India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon present.
The FTA between the countries aims to reduce tariffs on the majority of New Zealand exports to India and expand access for services and investment.
According to the government, the deal will eliminate or reduce tariffs on 95% of New Zealand exports to India once fully implemented. Almost 57% of exports will become duty free immediately, rising to 82% over time. The remaining exports will face reduced tariffs.
Mr Manuel said the deal was "phenomenal" and he was excited to be part of the event.
"It means exporters from New Zealand get to access one of the largest markets in the world, which is India and it’s quite big for the Indian market and our exporters too."
Mr Luxon said the benefits of the FTA were widespread.
"Our business community is excited to see the doors of opportunity open to 1.4 billion people whose economy is set to become the third largest in the world."
"One in four jobs are tied to trade. In signing this FTA, we are setting businesses up to succeed, boosting Kiwi jobs and enabling economic growth — and that means more money in Kiwis’ pockets."
Mr Manuel — the former treasurer, and now board member of, the India New Zealand Business Council — said he was "actively involved in promoting trade for many years", also hosting the negotiations for the FTA in February, 2011 in Christchurch.
"Even though the free trade agreement is signed between two governments, it’s the people-to-people network and businesses which actually carry that forward.
"We’ve been talking about this for years and laying the foundations, it’s been in the works for a very long time," Mr Manuel said.
