India and New Zealand convened the first meeting of the Joint Working Group on horticultural cooperation today, marking a step forward under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between the two countries in March last year.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Joint Secretary (Horticulture), Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Priya Ranjan from the Indian side and Mr. Steve Ainsworth, Divisional Manager, Bilateral Relations and Trade, in virtual mode from New Zealand. It brought together senior officials and technical experts from both sides to advance collaboration in the horticulture sector, with a strong focus on kiwifruit and pip fruit (apple and pear) development.
The meeting concluded with the finalisation of timelines and an implementation roadmap for both Action Plans. Senior officials from both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening horticultural ties. The Joint Working Group identified immediate next steps and proposed a schedule for follow-up meetings and reviews to ensure sustained momentum in India-New Zealand horticultural cooperation.
