A row over visas for Indian businessmen has cast a shadow over the first official talks on a New Zealand-India free trade agreement.

Trade Minister Phil Goff said progress had been made in the initial talks in Wellington on agreeing the terms of reference for a Joint Study Group comprising officials from both countries.

"This arrangement will now be put forward for final Ministerial approval in New Delhi. I hope the Joint Study Group will be able to hold its first meeting early in 2008 and expect it to complete its work within 12 months," Mr Goff said.

But on the same day news broke that New Zealand immigration officials in New Delhi had refused visas to members of the Indian delegation to the 11th meeting of the India NZ Joint Business Councils.

The visa refusals are being investigated by the immigration service, Mr Goff said.

"I have discussed the question of denial of visas to some members of an Indian business delegation to New Zealand with Minister of Immigration David Cunliffe. He has undertaken an inquiry within his department to determine the reasons for the denial of visas."

National Party Trade spokesman Tim Groser said, "This is potentially a major blunder, as I understand the business people had been invited to New Zealand."

Wellington Chamber of Commerce CEO Charles Finny said he was embarrassed and outraged by the affair. The chamber administers the affairs of the joint business council.

"This incident raises further questions about our immigration policy. Rather than facilitating entry to New Zealand the Chamber is concerned that the policy is designed more to keep people out of the country. We need to shift paradigms and be encouraging greater people to people contact, particularly with the business communities of major economies," Mr Finny said.

Mr. Rakesh Joshi

Joshi Enterprise

Manager, Joshi Enterprise
Dispur, India

Free Member, Joined :02/02/2007
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