Delhi: India and New Zealand have outlined an ambitious roadmap to expand bilateral cooperation, signing multiple agreements and announcing new initiatives during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to New Zealand. The outcomes span defence, trade, maritime security, disaster management, agriculture, tourism, education and scientific collaboration, reflecting a broader push to strengthen strategic ties through 2030.
The visit resulted in the signing of ten key documents covering a wide range of sectors. Both countries agreed to strengthen defence cooperation through new arrangements on maritime collaboration, hydrography, logistics support between their defence forces and the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.
Cooperation was also expanded in disaster risk management, animal husbandry and dairying, tourism, sports and cultural exchanges. Another agreement focuses on developing the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat through collaboration with New Zealand’s maritime museum expertise.
Beyond the formal agreements, India and New Zealand unveiled a Strategic Partnership and Roadmap to 2030, providing a long-term framework to deepen engagement across trade, defence, maritime security, tourism, education, agriculture, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
A major economic objective announced during the visit is the commitment to double bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion (approximately ₹35,000 crore) by 2030, supported by the proposed Free Trade Agreement and stronger market access for businesses in both countries.
The two nations also agreed to establish a Maritime Security Dialogue to enhance policy coordination and information sharing. New Zealand will additionally join the maritime security pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), reinforcing cooperation on regional maritime challenges, including efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Agricultural cooperation will receive a boost through the launch of the Kiwifruit Action Plan and the establishment of two Centres of Excellence for kiwifruit cultivation in Nagaland and Uttarakhand, aimed at improving productivity and innovation in the sector.
Scientific and academic partnerships also featured prominently. New agreements were announced between India’s National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and the University of Canterbury, as well as between the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K) and Massey University, promoting collaborative research, student mobility and institutional cooperation.
The broad package of agreements underscores a shared commitment to expanding India-New Zealand relations through stronger institutional partnerships, economic collaboration and long-term strategic engagement.
Source: This article is based on an official press release issued by the Press Information Bureau
Press Release Page | Press Information Bureau
