India, New Zealand elevate ties to Strategic Partnership, unveil Roadmap to 2030
Auckland, July 11 (TNT): India and New Zealand on Saturday elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership and adopted the India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2030, outlining an ambitious framework to deepen cooperation across defence, trade, security, education, technology, climate action and people-to-people ties.
The announcement came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to New Zealand, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in four decades, at the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
The two leaders held bilateral talks in Auckland and reviewed progress since Prime Minister Luxon’s visit to India in March 2025.
Both countries agreed to institutionalise regular high-level political engagement, including a Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, annual senior officials’ meetings and enhanced parliamentary exchanges to provide strategic direction for the partnership.
In the defence and security sector, India and New Zealand agreed to expand maritime cooperation through a Maritime Cooperation Arrangement, hydrography and nautical cartography agreements, and a Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement.
They also decided to establish an annual Maritime Security Dialogue and strengthen collaboration on counter-terrorism, cyber security, law enforcement and organised crime.
On the economic front, the two leaders welcomed the signing of a comprehensive India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and set an aspirational target of doubling bilateral trade in goods and services to NZ$7 billion (around ₹35,000 crore) by 2030.
They also encouraged early implementation of the FTA, greater investment, enhanced agricultural cooperation and the launch of direct non-stop air services between the two countries.
The leaders welcomed agreements on tourism, animal husbandry and dairying, disaster management, cultural cooperation and sports, while reaffirming collaboration in education, research, innovation, clean energy and climate resilience.
New Zealand also joined the Global Biofuels Alliance, and both countries agreed to deepen cooperation through the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
Recognising the contribution of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand, the two Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties, educational exchanges and sporting cooperation, including celebrations marking 100 Years of Unity Through Sport in 2026.
On regional and global issues, both leaders reiterated support for a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific, called for reforms of the United Nations Security Council with India’s permanent membership, reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and condemned the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam and New Delhi in 2025.
They also expressed concern over the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, stressing the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and adherence to international law.
The two Prime Ministers directed officials to ensure timely implementation of the Roadmap to 2030 and agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level engagements to realise the full potential of the India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership.
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