Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met on Monday to reinforce their defence and economic relations, a day after both nations announced the revival of free trade agreement negotiations.
The two leaders convened in New Delhi, where they signed agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation in defence, food processing, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, and critical minerals.
Luxon described his meetings with Modi and other Indian leaders as “highly productive,” stating that they would help enhance ties between the two countries. He noted that the defence partnership encompasses joint military training.
“New Zealand is committed to deepening its engagement with India across multiple sectors, including defence and security, trade and economics, people-to-people connections, education, tourism, sports, and culture,” Luxon said at a joint press conference with Modi.
Accompanied by business leaders and several parliamentarians, Luxon is on a five-day visit to India.
On Sunday, India and New Zealand agreed to resume free trade negotiations that had remained stalled for over a decade.
The announcement followed discussions between New Zealand’s Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay and his Indian counterpart, Piyush Goyal. This development aligns with India’s recent efforts to secure trade agreements with other countries, particularly in the wake of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of reciprocal tariffs on imports from nations including India.
Last month, India and the European Union agreed to finalise a long-pending free trade agreement by the end of the year, while a similar deal between India and the United Kingdom is also under negotiation.
India’s Commerce Ministry stated that the free trade agreement with New Zealand aims to “achieve balanced outcomes that enhance supply-chain integration and improve market access,” though it did not disclose further details.
In a statement on Sunday, Luxon emphasised the benefits of trade, saying, “It is through trade that we can strengthen both our economies, creating more jobs and higher incomes for Kiwis and Indians.”
Bilateral trade between India and New Zealand amounted to $1.7 billion in the 2023-24 financial year.
Source: AP
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