Modi ends NZ visit, announces India-New Zealand Partnership

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a historic visit to New Zealand on July 11, 2026, elevating bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership and setting an ambitious roadmap to significantly deepen economic and security cooperation. The two-day visit, the first by an Indian head of government to the country in four decades, resulted in a series of agreements aimed at doubling trade and enhancing collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.

During meetings in Auckland with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, the leaders endorsed the "India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership Roadmap to 2030," a four-year framework guiding expanded cooperation across political, trade, security, and cultural spheres. A central economic goal is to double bilateral trade in goods and services to NZ$7 billion (approximately 35,000 crore rupees) by 2030. The recently concluded India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, finalized in nine months, is seen as pivotal to achieving this target. Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence the pact would unlock new opportunities in market access, investment, and technology.

New Zealand has committed to a $20 billion investment in India over the next...