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Modi and Luxon met in New Delhi and signed agreements on
enhancing cooperation in areas of defense, food processing,
pharmaceuticals, renewable energy and critical minerals.
Luxon said he held “highly productive meetings” with Modi and
other Indian leaders that will improve ties between India and
New Zealand, adding the defense relationship between the two
sides includes joint military training.
“New Zealand is committed to doing more with India across a wide
range of areas — defense and security, trade and economics,
people-to-people ties, education, tourism, sports and culture,”
Luxon said at joint press conference with Modi.
Luxon, who was accompanied by key business leaders and several
parliamentarians, is leading a high-level delegation as part of
his five-day visit to India.
Modi said the two countries will also prepare a roadmap “for
mutual cooperation in defense industries,” including initiating
negotiations on a “mutually beneficial” free trade agreement.
India and New Zealand on Sunday agreed to revive free trade
negotiations that have been stalled for more than 10 years.
The announcement was made after discussions between New Zealand
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay and his Indian
counterpart, Piyush Goyal. It follows India’s recent efforts to
broker trade deal agreements with other nations after U.S.
President Donald Trump’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs
on imported goods from countries including India.
India and the European Union last month agreed to finalize a
long-pending free trade agreement by the end of this year. A
similar trade deal between India and the United Kingdom is also
in the works.
India’s Commerce Ministry said the free trade deal between India
and New Zealand aims to “achieve balanced outcomes that enhance
supply-chain integration and improve market access.” It did not
offer other details.
Luxon in a statement Sunday said: “It is through trade that we
can boost the economies of both our countries, providing more
jobs and higher incomes for Kiwis and Indians."
The bilateral trade between India and New Zealand stood at
$873.4 million in 2023-24 financial year compared to $1.02
billion in 2022-23.
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