Last Updated on November 17, 2025 10:49 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
AMN / MUMBAI
New Zealand’s Minister for Trade, Investment, Agriculture and Forestry, Todd McClay, lauded India’s rapid advancements in skill development during his visit to the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Skill Development Centre in Kandivali, Mumbai, on Monday.
The state-of-the-art centre—established under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming India into a global skill hub—provides specialised training in cyber security, hotel management, retail services, white goods, and apparel manufacturing.
During his tour of the facility, Mr. McClay reviewed multiple training programmes and interacted with trainees. He noted that India’s evolving training ecosystem, modern infrastructure and strong industry linkages are increasingly aligned with international benchmarks. Strengthening bilateral partnerships with India, he emphasised, remains a key priority for New Zealand.
Highlighting significant opportunities for collaboration, the minister pointed to emerging avenues in education, skill development, agriculture, technology, and sustainable practices. He also confirmed that discussions on a balanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand are progressing positively.
Earlier in the day, Mr. McClay, along with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, inaugurated the Doctors’ Cricket Tournament as part of the MP Sports Festival in North Mumbai. Speaking at the event, Mr. Goyal said the initiative—conceived under the guidance of the Prime Minister—will contribute to enhancing India’s sporting preparedness for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and reinforce the country’s long-term ambition of hosting the 2036 Olympics.