New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon embarked on a historic visit to India from March 16 to 20, 2025, leading the country’s largest ever trade mission. The delegation, comprising over 80 members, included prominent business leaders, community representatives, and key figures from various sectors such as sports, media, and education. This visit marked a significant milestone in the growing bilateral relationship between New Zealand and India, with both nations recognizing the vast potential for collaboration in areas such as economic cooperation, defence, education, and regional security.

Celebrated in New Zealand as an opportunity to engage with India’s rising economic power, this visit was viewed as a key move to further elevate New Zealand’s global standing. While New Zealand was enthusiastic about India’s growing economy, India adopted a more measured approach, emphasizing the need to nurture the relationship carefully while aligning it with its strategic interests and long-term goals.
Prime Minister Luxon’s trip to India was framed as a pivotal moment in New Zealand’s efforts to build a more robust and multifaceted relationship with India, a nation that has rapidly emerged as a significant global economic player. The visit was warmly received in New Zealand, where leaders acknowledged India’s growing influence on the world stage. There was an overwhelming sense of optimism that this visit would open new doors for collaboration across various sectors. While New Zealand was eager to tap into India’s expanding economy, India took a more cautious, yet constructive stance.

Prime Minister Luxon expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the hospitality extended to him by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prime Minister Luxon emphasized that this visit would serve as a catalyst for forging stronger long-term economic ties between New Zealand and India, especially in sectors where both countries have complementary strengths. During this visit, two leaders discussed critical issues, including regional security, economic cooperation, and defence relations, with a clear focus on strengthening their collaboration in these areas. A particularly poignant moment of the visit was when both leaders paused to remember the victims of two significant terrorist attacks that had profoundly affected their respective nations: the Christchurch terror attack in New Zealand and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in India. These events have left lasting scars on both countries and have shaped their approach to national security and international cooperation.

In his powerful address, Prime Minister Modi stood alongside Prime Minister Luxon and made a compelling statement calling for a united global front against terrorism. Modi underscored the necessity for international solidarity in combating terrorism, urging the need for stronger, coordinated action to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. The shared pain of these devastating events deepened the bond between the two nations, strengthening their commitment to fighting terrorism and enhancing their security cooperation. This moment also served as a reminder of the shared values and challenges faced by both countries, and it laid a strong foundation for future collaboration in addressing global security concerns.

Prime Minister Modi also framed the evolving bilateral relationship in positive terms, referring to it as a “match-winning partnership.” He emphasized that New Zealand and India bring complementary strengths to the table. New Zealand’s expertise in agriculture, food processing, and dairy is well-aligned with India’s rapidly growing sectors in technology, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals. Both countries have strengths in distinct yet interrelated fields, positioning them well for deeper collaboration. This mutual recognition of each other’s capabilities formed the basis for discussions on how the two nations could expand their ties across a variety of industries, from agriculture to technology to education.

At the historic Hyderabad House, the most significant geopolitical moment during this visit came when Prime Minister Modi addressed concerns about territorial expansionism, reaffirming India’s commitment to territorial integrity.

Standing beside Prime Minister Luxon, Modi declared, “We do not believe in expansionism.” This statement was made in response to ongoing global concerns about territorial disputes in the Indo-Pacific region, and it served as a clear message to China and other powers regarding India’s stance on sovereignty and territorial integrity. . Continue reading
Modi’s remarks highlighted India’s desire for peaceful coexistence with its neighbours and a commitment to opposing any form of territorial aggression or expansion.

In addition to commitment to combating terrorism, the two leaders also discussed other pressing security concerns, including the activities of anti-India elements within New Zealand’s borders. Prime Minister Modi raised concerns about groups and individuals in New Zealand who have been actively undermining bilateral relations and promoting separatism and anti-India sentiments. He emphasized that these elements needed to be addressed to ensure the growing relationship between the two nations remains unimpeded
Education was another central theme of the visit, with Prime Minister Modi inviting New Zealand universities to establish campuses in India. This proposal aimed to strengthen educational and cultural ties between the two countries. By having New Zealand universities setup campuses in India, Indian students would gain access to high-quality education, while also contributing to India’s growing focus on research and development. New Zealand universities would play an important role in shaping India’s educational landscape.

One of the most exciting developments during the visit was the agreement to explore the integration of their payment systems, particularly linking New Zealand’s payment networks with India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This integration would enable smoother, faster, and more efficient financial transactions between the two countries. Such a step would not only benefit businesses but also facilitate cross-border trade and investment, contributing to a more seamless economic relationship between New Zealand and India. By creating a more efficient payment system, both nations could enhance their economic interactions and ease the flow of capital and trade.

The two leaders discussed the establishment of a mobility pact that would streamline the movement of professionals, students, and tourists between the two countries. This proposed pact would allow for greater exchanges in education, culture, and professional fields such as technology, healthcare, and agriculture. It would make it easier for citizens of both countries to travel, work, and study in each other’s nations, to strengthen the cultural and economic bonds between New Zealand and India.

Another major economic milestone was the announcement of talks to establish a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand. This agreement would create new trade opportunities, particularly in key sectors such as dairy, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals. The FTA is expected to unlock new markets for both countries and promote a more robust economic exchange, enhancing their trade relations and positioning both nations to capitalize on each other’s strengths.

In the realm of defence, both leaders made significant strides in enhancing military cooperation. Prime Minister Modi announced that India and New Zealand would institutionalize their defence ties, focusing on joint military exercises, training programs, and port visits. These initiatives would not only improve the operational readiness of both nations’ armed forces but also foster closer strategic collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. By deepening their defence cooperation, India and New Zealand aim to contribute to regional stability and security, which remains a critical focus for both countries.
During the second leg of the visit in Mumbai, several important MoUs were signed between companies from both nations, covering sectors such as technology, sports, arts, culture, and tourism. Prime Minister Luxon also held productive meetings with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor CP Radhakrishnan. Additionally, Luxon visited the Indian warship INS Surat and concluded his trip with a visit to New Zealand’s frigate, HMNZS Te Kaha, which was on a port call in Mumbai.

Prime Minister Luxon’s visit to India marks the beginning of a new chapter in the growing relationship between the two countries. The discussions covered a wide range of key issues, including security, economic cooperation, defence, education, and regional stability. The agreements made during the visit have laid a strong foundation for future collaboration, and both leaders left with a renewed sense of optimism about the future of the India-New Zealand partnership. With both countries committed to deepening their ties, this visit represents a significant step forward in their shared vision for a prosperous and secure future together. -Yugal Parashar