New Delhi, Mar 16 (UNI) New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon arrived in India on a four-day visit, at the head of a 60-member delegation that comprises business honchos, cricketers, and Kiwi-Indians.
The New Zealand Prime Minister, who is visiting India for the first time as Prime Minister, has been to India earlier as part of a top executive of Unilever and is familiar with the country.
In a post on X, PM Luxon said: “I’ve landed in India – a country of huge importance to New Zealand’s prosperity, security and society.
“India provides huge economic opportunity for Kiwis.
“That’s why I’m here and that’s why I’ve brought a senior delegation of business and community leaders with me.”
Besides some 41 top-tier business honchos, like Air NZ chair Dame Therese Walsh, sportspeople like cricketers Ross Taylor and Ajaz Patel are also reported to be part of his delegation.
A 19-person Kiwi-Indian delegation includes former Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, MPs from Labour, National, Act and NZ First, heads of the Indian community and business organisations, and Simran Kaur – host of popular podcast Girls that Invest, a news report said.
The delegation also includes Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay, and Ethnic Communities Minister Mark Mitchell.
Last week in a briefing to the media, PM Luxon had said that trade will play a central role his discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his India trip, including talks on a free trade deal.
PM Luxon had promised ahead of the 2023 election that he would secure a free-trade deal with India in his first term.
Luxon said strengthening Aotearoa's (New Zealand) ties with India "is a key priority for my Government".
"We’ve already made incredible progress over the last year as we invest in building a broad-based, sustainable relationship with India – the world’s fastest-growing major economy, and the place from which 6% of New Zealand’s population claim their heritage. I hope my visit will further strengthen the close links between us."
The last formal negotiations on an FTA between the two sides were last held nearly a decade ago.
PM Luxon has said that trade opportunities with India are improving as Indian communities have become wealthier amid a widespread transition from low-income to middle-income wages.
“Those citizens now don’t have worries about where their house is or what they’re going to be eating tonight, they’re actually saving for their retirement, they’re sending their kids off on education, they want to travel more and that’s a huge opportunity for us.”
PM Luxon is also set to discuss cooperation in defence, and also participate at the Raisina Dialogue.
Regional security within the Pacific had been a prominent issue in recent weeks amid China’s warships travelling in the Tasman Sea and the recently inked deal between China and the Cook
Islands, which shocked New Zealand.
PM Luxon has described India as “one of the big guys” with the fourth-largest military spend globally, and that India is “very aligned” with New Zealand concerning Indo-Pacific security.
"India is an important power in the Indo-Pacific and I will discuss with Prime Minister Modi what more we can do together to maintain peace and prosperity in our region," Luxon said last week.
PM Luxon will visit New Delhi and Mumbai before returning to Wellington on March 20.
He will hold talks with Prime Minister Modi tomorrow.
The MEA spokesperson said in a post on X:
“A warm welcome to PM @chrisluxonmp of New Zealand as he arrives in New Delhi on his first official visit.
“Received by MoS for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, at the airport.
“PM Luxon will also be the Chief Guest & Keynote Speaker in the @raisinadialogue 2025.”
UNI RN