The India Business Council isn't surprised to see the Free Trade Agreement have an impact already, before coming into force.

New export numbers show apples are in high demand – volumes jumping 63% on the 2024 season when negotiations began. 

Last month, Matariki Forests sent its first shipment of logs from Bluff to India since 2020. 

Council Chair Edwin Paul told Ryan Bridge there's an increase in general business confidence.

He says there's also a real interest in the likes of mean, wood, honey, and technology.

LISTEN ABOVE

The India Business Council isn't surprised to see the Free Trade Agreement have an impact already, before coming into force.
New export numbers show apples are in high demand – volumes jumping 63% on the 2024 season when negotiations began.&nbsp;
Last month, Matariki Forests sent its first shipment of logs from Bluff to India since 2020.&nbsp;
Council Chair Edwin Paul told Ryan Bridge there's an increase in general business confidence.
He says there's also a real interest in the likes of mean, wood, honey, and technology.
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Edwin Paul: India Business Council Chair on the India FTA showing early signs of growth before coming into force

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0decfa32-44a5-4324-84d0-b47f012d83d1/transcript

The Technology Minister says the global demand for more data centres is great, as the Government pushes to bring more here. 

Invest New Zealand is looking to attract up to $30 billion in offshore investment in the centres over five years.  

It says it could generate $70 billion in broader economic activity and employ up to 3,500 people.  

Technology Minister Penny Simmonds told Ryan Bridge the digital economy needs infrastructure – anyone who’s streamed a movie or banked online is part of this digital economy. 

She’s offering assurances that we have enough energy to power the data centres, saying that we already have 56 facilities, which use only 0.6% of our total power. 

Simmonds told Bridge we're extending our renewable generation, which will help meet future demand. 

The Minister says nine energy projects are going through fast track, and if we weren't expanding generation, then she'd be worried. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The Technology Minister says the global demand for more data centres is great, as the Government pushes to bring more here.&nbsp;
Invest New Zealand is looking to attract up to $30 billion in offshore investment in the centres over five years. &nbsp;
It says it could generate $70 billion in broader economic activity and employ up to 3,500 people. &nbsp;
Technology Minister Penny Simmonds told Ryan Bridge the digital economy needs infrastructure – anyone who’s streamed a movie or banked online is part of this digital economy.&nbsp;
She’s offering assurances that we have enough energy to power the data centres, saying that we already have 56 facilities, which use only 0.6% of our total power.&nbsp;
Simmonds told Bridge we're extending our renewable generation, which will help meet future demand.&nbsp;
The Minister says nine energy projects are going through fast track, and if we weren't expanding generation, then she'd be worried.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Penny Simmonds: Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology on the push to bring more data centres to New Zealand

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/83a2253b-eb2b-42ea-8f99-b47f0189c68b/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 7th of July 2026, Invest NZ wants foreign companies to invest $30 billion investment in ai data centres over 5 years, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Penny Simmonds shares her thoughts. 

The Government says exporters are already experiencing a 'halo effect' of the India FTA, India Business Council Chair Edwin Paul tells Ryan which sectors are already seeing growth. 

Federated Farmers West Coast President Simon Cameron shares his thoughts on the Green Party's policy to ban synthetic fertiliser. 

Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on Australia's reaction to China launching a long-range ballistic missile into the South Pacific from one of its nuclear-powered submarines. 

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

LISTEN ABOVE

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 7th of July 2026, Invest NZ wants foreign companies to invest $30 billion investment in ai data centres over 5 years, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Penny Simmonds shares her thoughts.&nbsp;
The Government says exporters are already experiencing a 'halo effect' of the India FTA, India Business Council Chair Edwin Paul tells Ryan which sectors are already seeing growth.&nbsp;
Federated Farmers West Coast President Simon Cameron shares his thoughts on the Green Party's policy to ban synthetic fertiliser.&nbsp;
Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on Australia's reaction to China launching a long-range ballistic missile into the South Pacific from one of its nuclear-powered submarines.&nbsp;
Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Full Show Podcast: 07 July 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d7a2cef3-dcc5-4c39-84cc-b47f012ac42d/transcript

This week the Tony Blair Institute warned Andy Burnham that you can't tax your way to prosperity.

Some of our politicians could use a similar lecture.

We have parties wanting new taxes to fund what is basically a Universal Basic Income, even though AI hasn't yet stolen the number of jobs they claimed it would.

A Wall Street Journal piece this morning talks about exactly this point – even big tech seems to be u-turning on the job doomsday scenario.

We had the Greens yesterday come out with a policy that was not serious, but potentially destructive to our standard of living.

You can read it on their website. It's four pages long. Two of the pages are pictures and photos.

Fewer cows. Synthetic nitrate fertiliser should be phased out.

But zero detail on when, how, and the economic impact of doing so.

Same goes for bottom trawling. 70% of our fishing industry by volume is caught by trawling within a metre of the sea floor.

The industry's worth $5 billion a year. 16,000+ jobs. Dairy's our biggest exporter. $16 billion a year.

To try and take them down is to launch an assault on our standard of living akin to the doomsday AI job wipe-out that was once predicted to happen, but hasn't yet eventuated.

On top of this, there's a plan for more taxes, which, remember, even Tony Blair admits is no plan for prosperity.

The thing about the Greens' rivers plan is that they're partly right. Agricultural run-off has made many rivers un-swimmable.

But simply banning and taxing things does not solve problems.

It creates new ones. Like how we're going to feed the kids, create jobs, and stay in the OECD.

This week the Tony Blair Institute warned Andy Burnham that you can't tax your way to prosperity.
Some of our politicians could use a similar lecture.
We have parties wanting new taxes to fund what is basically a Universal Basic Income, even though AI hasn't yet stolen the number of jobs they claimed it would.
A Wall Street Journal piece this morning talks about exactly this point – even big tech seems to be u-turning on the job doomsday scenario.
We had the Greens yesterday come out with a policy that was not serious, but potentially destructive to our standard of living.
You can read it on their website. It's four pages long. Two of the pages are pictures and photos.
Fewer cows. Synthetic nitrate fertiliser should be phased out.
But zero detail on when, how, and the economic impact of doing so.
Same goes for bottom trawling. 70% of our fishing industry by volume is caught by trawling within a metre of the sea floor.
The industry's worth $5 billion a year. 16,000+ jobs. Dairy's our biggest exporter. $16 billion a year.
To try and take them down is to launch an assault on our standard of living akin to the doomsday AI job wipe-out that was once predicted to happen, but hasn't yet eventuated.
On top of this, there's a plan for more taxes, which, remember, even Tony Blair admits is no plan for prosperity.
The thing about the Greens' rivers plan is that they're partly right. Agricultural run-off has made many rivers un-swimmable.
But simply banning and taxing things does not solve problems.
It creates new ones. Like how we're going to feed the kids, create jobs, and stay in the OECD.

Ryan Bridge: Banning and taxing won't solve the problem

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/6ed843d8-3a71-4887-870d-b47f0129b654/transcript

Edwin Paul: India Business Council Chair on the India FTA showing early signs of growth before coming into force

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