Ahmedabad Times

India and New Zealand on Saturday elevated their relations to a strategic partnership and set a goal of accelerating commerce in items and companies to ₹35,000 crore (US$4 billion) by 2030 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Christopher Luxon pledged to deepen cooperation in commerce and safety and strengthen a rules-based Indo-Pacific.

New Zealand was the ultimate vacation spot of Modi’s three-nation tour, which additionally included Indonesia and Australia and was targeted on forging nearer financial and strategic ties with key gamers within the Indo-Pacific area amid persevering with volatility and uncertainty on the worldwide stage. Modi was the primary Indian premier to go to New Zealand in 4 a long time.

The 2 sides concluded a dozen agreements, together with measures for enhanced maritime cooperation within the Indo-Pacific, a mutual logistics assist association for warships to entry assist at one another’s bases, the institution of a joint working group to counter terrorism, and a joint motion plan on sport. Additionally they finalised a roadmap to reinforce ties in numerous sectors until 2030.

“We’ve taken the historic resolution to raise India-New Zealand relations to a strategic partnership…We’ll transfer ahead with clear objectives and concrete leads to each space,” Modi stated at an occasion themed “India-New Zealand: A successful partnership” that was additionally attended by Luxon.

Modi stated shut cooperation between the 2 maritime nations will give the Indo-Pacific new energy, and the 2 sides can act as catalysts advocating for peace.

Additionally Learn:India flags considerations over focusing on of business ships, escalating Iran-US tensions

Luxon described the strategic partnership as a “vital step ahead in a world that’s more and more risky and unsure”, and stated it supplies a stronger platform for sensible cooperation and can allow nearer cooperation in defence, maritime safety and regulation enforcement.

India and New Zealand have a shared curiosity in a free, open, peaceable and affluent Indo-Pacific and can strengthen maritime cooperation, together with by the brand new Maritime Cooperation Association between India’s defence ministry and the New Zealand Defence Pressure and the Mutual Logistics Assist Association, in line with a joint assertion. Additionally they agreed to determine an annual maritime safety dialogue to strengthen coordination and knowledge exchanges.

Modi and Luxon reaffirmed their dedication to respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and upholding a rules-based order within the Indo-Pacific, the joint assertion stated.

Additionally they reiterated their assist for freedom of navigation and overflight in step with the 1982 United Nations Conference on the Regulation of the Sea and emphasised the significance of working collectively for safety and prosperity within the Indo-Pacific.

Modi’s go to got here lower than three months after the signing of a free commerce settlement (FTA) with New Zealand, and the 2 sides set the purpose of doubling annual commerce in items and companies to ₹35,000 crore (NZ$7 billion or US$4 billion) by 2030. Bilateral commerce was value US$2 billion in 2024, with Indian exports of products and companies valued at US$1 billion.

“Our commerce has grown by greater than 50% during the last three years. We’re assured that the FTA will present a powerful basis for doubling our commerce over the subsequent 5 years. We additionally welcome New Zealand’s funding dedication of US$20 billion in India. It will present New Zealand corporations with the chance to turn into long-term companions in India’s progress story,” Modi stated.

Luxon and Modi additionally agreed to work collectively to make sure the early entry into pressure of the FTA. Rudrendra Tandon, secretary (East) within the exterior affairs ministry, informed a media briefing that New Zealand’s Parliament had accomplished the primary of three readings of the FTA as a part of the ratification course of. He quoted Luxon as telling Modi that there’s bipartisan assist for the commerce deal in New Zealand and didn’t foresee any downside for its ratification.

Luxon described India as an Indo-Pacific companion recognized for its scale, innovation, ambition and strategic affect, whereas New Zealand is trusted and globally related and presents experience in meals manufacturing, training and expertise. Modi stated the FTA will open new doorways for industries, farmers and youth and create a blueprint for commerce, belief, expertise and expertise.

Modi and Luxon expressed concern on the renewed escalation of tensions within the Center East and referred to as on all events to train restraint, de-escalate tensions and guarantee safety of civilians, the joint assertion stated. They referred to as for full restoration of freedom of navigation and international circulation of commerce by the Strait of Hormuz, and opposed “any constraints on transport”. Additionally they reiterated the significance of dialogue and diplomacy to attain a peaceable and lasting answer.

Additionally they mentioned the scenario in Ukraine and expressed concern on the ongoing conflict that continues to “trigger immense human struggling and international penalties”. They’ll assist efforts for a complete, simply and lasting peace by dialogue and diplomacy, primarily based on the rules of the UN Constitution and worldwide regulation, the joint assertion stated.

Modi and Luxon additionally reiterated their condemnation of all types of terror, together with cross-border terrorism, and condemned the terrorist assault in Pahalgam in April 2025 and the phobia incident close to the Purple Fort in November 2025 and referred to as for these accountable to be held accountable. They backed a zero-tolerance and constant strategy to terror and referred to as for disrupting terrorist financing networks and secure havens and dismantling of terror infrastructure. They additional agreed to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism and welcomed the signing of an settlement on establishing a joint working group on counter-terrorism which is able to facilitate data and information sharing.

The 2 leaders mentioned the significance of clear and resilient provide chains and expressed deep concern at disruptions throughout the Indo-Pacific, and famous that the steadiness of worldwide provide routes is important to the area, the joint assertion stated.

Among the many different agreements concluded by the 2 sides have been an implementation association on cooperation in hydrography and nautical cartography which is able to strengthen cooperation in joint manufacturing of navigational charts and hydrographic data-sharing, a memorandum of cooperation between India’s Nationwide Catastrophe Administration Authority and the Nationwide Emergency Administration Company of New Zealand for collaboration in catastrophe danger administration, earthquake resilience, tsunami preparedness and coastal hazard mitigation, and a memorandum of association in tourism that may assist strengthen financial ties and improve vacationer flows.

The Nationwide Centre for Polar and Ocean Analysis in Goa and the College of Canterbury in New Zealand signed an MoU for collaboration in Antarctic analysis and different scientific and academic actions, whereas one other MoU between the Nationwide Institute of Meals Know-how, Entrepreneurship and Administration, Kundli, and Massey College in New Zealand will increase cooperation in analysis, tutorial exchanges, and pupil mobility.

New Zealand introduced it would be a part of the World Biofuels Alliance and nominated maritime safety as its precedence pillar beneath the India-led Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) to undertake cooperation actions targeted on combating unlawful, unreported and unregulated fishing.