India, Dec. 27 -- New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Saturday welcomed the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India, days after his country's foreign minister expressed strong reservations. Luxon described the deal as a landmark achievement for his government and a key step toward future growth.

Luxon said, "We said we'd secure a Free Trade Agreement with India in our first term, and we've delivered." Emphasising its economic potential, he added that the deal would mean "more jobs, higher incomes and more exports by opening the door to 1.4 billion Indian consumers."

The New Zealand leader said that the agreement was part of his government's broader agenda, saying, "Fixing the basics. building the future."

However, the agreeme...