India and New Zealand have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on the electronic exchange of origin data for trade in goods, aiming to strengthen customs cooperation and facilitate bilateral trade under their Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which came into force on October 20, 2026.

The MoC was signed on October 19, 2026, by Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairman of India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), and Christine Stevenson, Comptroller and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS).

The agreement provides for the advance electronic exchange of origin data, enabling more efficient, secure and predictable cross-border trade. The initiative is expected to improve operational efficiency, reduce information gaps and provide greater certainty to businesses engaged in bilateral trade.

The arrangement also aims to support the effective utilisation of trade preferences under the India–New Zealand FTA, ensuring that eligible businesses in both countries can access negotiated trade benefits more efficiently.

The MoC reflects the two countries’ shared commitment to digitalisation, enhanced information exchange and modern customs practices, while strengthening bilateral economic cooperation.