New Delhi, July 13 (APAC Media): India and New Zealand have significantly strengthened their bilateral ties following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to New Zealand.
During the visit, both countries elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership and unveiled a Roadmap to 2030 aimed at deepening cooperation across multiple sectors.
The visit resulted in 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), eight major announcements, and a total of 18 key outcomes.
Strategic Partnership and Roadmap to 2030
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon agreed to enhance cooperation across a broad range of sectors.
10 Agreements Signed
India and New Zealand signed the following agreements during the visit:
- Maritime cooperation between the defence forces.
- Cooperation in hydrography and nautical cartography.
- Mutual logistics support between the Indian Navy and the New Zealand Defence Force.
- Establishment of a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.
- Cooperation in disaster management.
- Partnership in animal husbandry and dairy.
- Tourism cooperation.
- India-New Zealand Joint Action Plan on Sports.
- Collaboration on the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal.
- Cultural cooperation.
Eight Major Announcements
The two leaders also announced several new initiatives, including:
- Launch of the India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership and Roadmap to 2030.
- A target to double bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion (approximately ₹35,000 crore) by 2030.
- Establishment of a Maritime Security Dialogue.
- New Zealand’s participation in the maritime security pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
- New Zealand joining the Global Biofuels Alliance.
- Launch of the Kiwifruit Action Plan and establishment of two Centres of Excellence in Nagaland and Uttarakhand.
- Antarctic research collaboration between NCPOR, Goa, and the University of Canterbury.
- Academic cooperation between NIFTEM-Kundli and Massey University.
Additionally, India and New Zealand reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific. They supported freedom of navigation under international law and peaceful dispute resolution in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
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