India and New Zealand have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) concerning Electronic Origin Data Exchange of Trade in Goods, marking a significant step in strengthening customs cooperation and facilitating bilateral trade between the two countries. The MoC was signed on October 19, 2026, by Shri Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), India, and Ms. Christine Stevenson, Comptroller and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS). This agreement was executed under the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which entered into force on October 20, 2026.
The MoC reflects both countries' commitment to leveraging digitalization and enhanced information exchange for more efficient, secure, and predictable cross-border trade. By enabling the advance electronic exchange of origin data on trade in goods, the arrangement will deepen customs cooperation and support the effective implementation of trade facilitation measures. The initiative aligns bilateral customs cooperation with evolving international practices in digitalization, information exchange, and trade facilitation.
The electronic exchange of origin data is expected to improve operational efficiency, reduce information gaps, and provide greater certainty to traders engaged in bilateral trade. Importantly, the arrangement will support the effective utilization of trade preferences under the India-New Zealand FTA and help ensure that the benefits negotiated under the Agreement reach eligible businesses in both countries more efficiently and with greater certainty.