Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited an exhibition in Auckland featuring innovative sports equipment on Saturday. The two leaders also participated in a gala lunch where they engaged with decorated athletes and stakeholders linked to high-performance sports, as per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Prime Minister Modi highlighted the significance of the Sports Joint Action Plan in enhancing sports cooperation between the two nations, aiming to diversify their relationship beyond cricket, especially with India preparing to host the Commonwealth Games 2030.
The special Gala luncheon, themed “India-New Zealand: A Winning Partnership,” was organized by Prime Minister Luxon and attended by notable figures from various sectors such as politics, business, academia, and sports. During the event, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the synergies between India and New Zealand and the deep-rooted people-to-people connections. He also lauded the elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership level, expressing optimism about further strengthening collaboration. The recently concluded India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was highlighted as a significant milestone that would create new prospects for businesses, youth, and farmers in both countries, with a target to double bilateral trade by 2030.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Luxon echoed the sentiments of fostering stronger ties between India and New Zealand, outlining a shared vision for enhancing mutual prosperity through increased bilateral cooperation. Following the luncheon, both leaders acknowledged the upgraded status of India-New Zealand relations to a Strategic Partnership and the potential benefits stemming from the FTA, particularly in boosting trade volumes and opportunities for various stakeholders by the end of the decade.
