Two interest groups India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) and New Zealand India Trade Alliance - NZITA, hosted a delegation of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in New Zealand, led by AirAsia's General Manager Suresh Nair. Former President of NASSCOM Som Mittal, Sid Pandey of Successive Software, and representatives from Chitkara University, were present as well, among others. The events were - NZITA's 'Reimagining Indian New Zealand' relationship event titled Global Trade and Economic Challenges for New Zealand and India, held on September 24 in Auckland; and INZBC's Summit 2018 - Aviation, Tourism and Technology, held in the same city on September 28.

Delegates after delegates, including Jo Pennycuick of the Redesign Group, which has done some wonderful work across airports in India, and Mark Johnston of WelTec, which has lots of students coming from India to study, stressed on the importance of NZ-India trade, and for it to improve. Politicians across the board, including the Minister for Ethnic Communities Jenny Salesa MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs Fletcher Tabuteau MP, and Leader of the Opposition and National Party leader Simon Bridges expressed similar sentiments, and added their voices to the growing need for a direct flight between the two countries.

The task of highlighting the positives was undertaken by India's High Commissioner to New Zealand Sanjeev Kohli, who while acknowledging the constraints of geography and no free trade agreement between the two countries, noted how NZ-India trade in services is actually increasing, with both the countries poised to collaborate in technology more and more.

Som Mittal added to this by giving the example of STAAH - founded by Gavin Jeddo in his Kiwi-basement just over ten years ago. The company, which provides technology solutions for hospitality distribution, direct bookings and digital marketing services globally, has a fifth of its client base in India now, Mittal informed.