Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is making his first official visit to New Zealand next week.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who made the announcement on Friday, said: “Prime Minister Modi’s visit is historic, with this being the first to New Zealand by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years.”
Luxon and Modi are expected to talk about trade and investment, maritime, security, education, technology, tourism, sport and global issues.
Modi will arrive in Auckland on July 10 and leave on July 11.
“India is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, and a country of enormous importance to New Zealand’s prosperity,” Luxon said.
Luxon made a trip to India in March last year, meeting Modi at Hyderabad House.
India FTA
Last Thursday, the India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Legislation Amendment Bill passed its first reading with support from National, Labour and the ACT Party. Coalition partner NZ First, the Greens, Te Pāti Māori, Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, opposed the Bill.
NZ First has long been critical of the India FTA, continuing a political scrap last week after party leader Winston Peters accused National of "covertly" changing its course on the agreement's immigration settings.
National has strongly refuted this, with Trade Minister Todd McClay saying NZ First was wrong and should "stop promoting misinformation for the sake of gaining votes."
On Friday, Luxon said the relationship between NZ and India is moving to the next level with the FTA.
He said it would deliver more jobs, higher exports and stronger economic growth for NZ.
“It will reduce or eliminate tariffs on 95% of New Zealand’s exports to India once fully implemented. From day one, 57% of our exports will be tariff-free.”
The deal would “unlock new opportunities” to grow the country’s goods and services exports into India “and contribute to achieving the Government’s goal of building the future by doubling the value of exports by 2034”, Luxon said.
‘Celebrating a winning partnership’
Luxon said the pair would also be celebrating the “people-to-people connections” between India and NZ.
“This visit is about celebrating a winning partnership between New Zealand and India - one that delivers for our people and supports greater prosperity and security for both our countries."
“I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to New Zealand.”
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