NZ urged to harness diaspora leaders for deeper Indian trade ties
Calls are growing for New Zealand's government and private sector to formally recognise the role of ethnic and diaspora leaders in shaping future trade relationships with India. Sunit Prakash, Co-Founder of the New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India, has urged policy makers to involve these voices directly in trade strategy and economic initiatives.
Rising influence
The Indian diaspora forms 6% of New Zealand's population, equating to more than 320,000 people. Community members are estimated to make up 8 - 10% of the nation's digital workforce and generate over NZD $350 million in GDP annually. This increasing impact comes as both governments signal a renewed interest in strengthening bilateral ties. India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has recently visited New Zealand, followed swiftly by Trade Minister Todd McClay's ongoing trip to India for free trade talks.
Diaspora engagement
The need for a new approach is drawing attention within government and industry circles. Prakash and fellow leader Lalita Kasanji were the first Indians in the country to receive the New Zealand Order of Merit for their services to IT and the Indian community. This recognition highlights the sector's contribution and the perceived need for greater inclusion at policy level.
"We are extending our successful 'Connecting the Dots' series with proposals like 'Cloud Sherpas' - an initiative to accelerate Kiwi tech businesses entering India's dynamic market, working in ways traditional chambers of commerce have struggled to achieve," said Prakash, Co-Founder, New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India.
Programmeme reach
The "Connecting the Dots 2025" initiative recently connected 1,350 members through seven events, which included 33 speakers from diverse backgrounds such as entrepreneurs, members of parliament, students and ministers. Of these participants, 23 were women and eight held PhDs, reflecting a broad base of experience drawn upon to build cross-sector ties. The participation is seen as fostering networks that bridge government, education and technology sectors.
Policy recommendations
Prakash and his colleagues are advocating for the government to pilot new investment methods, such as accelerators targeting digital entrepreneurship and cross-border trade, rather than relying solely on traditional chambers of commerce or established business councils. Proposals also seek opportunities for policy co-design with direct involvement from diaspora and specialised digital sector experts.
Recommendations advocate a focus on growing high-value digital, technology and weightless trade, identifying India as a priority market for these initiatives. Advocates say that leveraging diaspora-led networks can offer insights for faster entry and deeper engagement in complex markets.
Digital opportunities
India has made significant investments in digital infrastructure, including the Aadhaar national identity system and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a globally noted fintech platform. Its model for digital public goods, along with innovation incubators at scale, are seen as reference points for New Zealand's own digital strategy. Bilateral partnerships based on pilots and mutual learning are being discussed as a route to accelerate New Zealand's digital transformation and create new export channels.
"Our work turns ambition into action. By aligning NZ and India's digital, policy, and innovation strengths, and putting diaspora networks at the heart of partnerships - we can future-proof the New Zealand economy and empower the next generation of leaders and businesses," said Prakash.