New Delhi, 11 July (H.S.): India and New Zealand have announced the elevation of their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership and set a target of increasing two-way trade to NZ$7 billion (approximately ₹35,000 crore) by 2030.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart, Christopher Luxon, approved the Roadmap to 2030 during their summit meeting in Auckland on Saturday. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the roadmap will serve as the foundation for a shared action plan to deepen bilateral cooperation and strengthen the partnership over the next four years.
Following the talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the exchange of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). The Ministry of External Affairs later announced the details of the agreements and key outcomes of the summit.
According to the Ministry, India and New Zealand will launch a Maritime Security Dialogue to strengthen cooperation in maritime security. New Zealand will join the Maritime Security Pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and will also become a member of the Global Biofuels Alliance.
In the agriculture sector, both countries agreed to launch a Kiwifruit Action Plan and establish two Centres of Excellence for kiwifruit cultivation in Nagaland and Uttarakhand.
The two sides also concluded an agreement on Antarctic research between the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, and the University of Canterbury. Another agreement was signed between NIFTEM-Kundli and Massey University to promote cooperation in food technology, research, student exchange and academic collaboration.
During the summit, the two leaders agreed on a total of 18 agreements and cooperative arrangements. These include four major agreements in the areas of defence and maritime security, covering maritime cooperation, hydrography and nautical cartography, reciprocal logistics support between the Indian Navy and the New Zealand Defence Force, and the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.
One agreement was signed in the field of disaster management, while separate agreements were concluded on animal husbandry and dairy, tourism, and cultural cooperation. The two countries also adopted the India–New Zealand Joint Action Plan on Sports.
Additionally, an arrangement was reached with the New Zealand Maritime Museum to support the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat. Another agreement aims to strengthen cultural cooperation through exchanges in art, heritage and other cultural initiatives.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
