Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister (PM) of New Zealand (NZ), was on five-days official visit to India from March 16 to 20, 2025, following an invitation from PM of India Narendra Modi. The visit aims to enhance India-New Zealand bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, defence, education, technology, agriculture, space, and sports.
- It was his first visit to India. He is accompanied by Louise Upston, Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Hon. Mark Mitchell, Minister for Ethnic Communities, and Sport and Recreation, and Todd McClay, Minister for Trade and Investment, Agriculture, and Forestry, and a high-level delegation of officials, and representatives of businesses.
- PM Narendra Modi and PM Christopher Luxon jointly inaugurated the 10th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, Delhi with PM Luxon as the Chief Guest (CG).
Highlights of the visit:
New Zealand became 50th member of CDRI
i.During NZ PM Christopher Luxon visit to India, New Zealand joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), became its 50th member.
- As of February 2025, the coalition comprises 43 member countries, alongside seven strategic partner organizations, all working together to enhance global resilience and sustainability.
ii.The CDRI was launched by Indian PM Narendra Modi during the 2019 United Nations(UN) Climate Action Summit, held in New York, the United States of America(USA) in September 2019.
iii.The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), headquartered in New Delhi, is dedicated to empowering nations by facilitating the exchange of knowledge, advancing research, and driving investment in disaster-resilient infrastructure.
Key Agreements:
During his visit NZ PM Christopher Luxon engaged in summit-level discussions with PM Narendra Modi. The two leaders addressed a range of bilateral, regional, and national issues, and issued a joint statement. During the meeting India and New Zealand signed several MoUs.
i.A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Horticulture was signed between India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW), India and New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries to enhance research and knowledge exchange.
ii.A Letter of Intent (LoI) on Forestry Cooperation was signed between India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), India and New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries to foster policy discussions and technical collaboration in the sector.
iii.A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation was signed between the Ministries of Defence (MoD) of India and Ministry of Defence of New Zealand to strengthen military ties and establish regular defence dialogues.
iv.A refreshed Education Cooperation Arrangement was signed between the Ministry of Education (MoE) of India and the Ministry of Education of New Zealand to facilitate information exchange and strengthen educational ties.
v.A MoC on Sports was signed between the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYA&S) of India and Sport New Zealand to enhance sports engagement and collaboration.
- Both countries also welcomed the “Sporting Unity” events planned for 2026, celebrating 100 years of sporting relations between India and New Zealand.
vi.Air India and Air New Zealand signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost air connectivity between India and New Zealand.
- The MoU includes the establishment of a new codeshare partnership on 16 routes between India, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, conferring travellers more choice and convenient access between the two countries.
vii.India and NZ have strengthened their economic ties with the signing of the Authorized Economic Operator – Mutual Recognition Agreement (AEO-MRA) between the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) of India and the New Zealand Customs Service.
- The AEO-MRA aims to enhance trade facilitation and improve supply chain security by enabling both nations to recognize each other’s AEOs—businesses that meet compliance and security standards.
Key Outcomes:
i.India and New Zealand have launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and aim to finalize it within the next two months. This agreement is expected to enhance trade and economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture, aerospace, and renewable energy sectors.
- Both the countries have initiated negotiations on an arrangement to facilitate the mobility of professionals and skilled workers. This initiative aims to streamline movement between the two countries
ii.PM of New Zealand showed interest in becoming part of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
- This initiative is a voluntary, non-treaty-based framework aimed at enhancing cooperation to ensure a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.
- It was launched by India in 2019 at the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Bangkok (Thailand).
Others:
i.Highlighting growing naval cooperation, New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon, accompanied by Rear Admiral Garin Golding, Chief of Navy of the Royal New Zealand Navy (CN-RNZN), visited Indian Naval Ship (INS) Surat at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- The PM’s visit coincided with the ongoing port call of the Royal New Zealand Navy Ship HMNZS Te Kaha, which is docked in Mumbai from March 19 to 24, 2025.
ii.PM Narendra Modi and New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon visited Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in New Delhi and offered prayers at the Sikh shrine.
About New Zealand (NZ):
Prime Minister (PM)– Christopher Luxon
Capital– Wellington
Currency– New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
