Strategic Partnership and Trade Target
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to New Zealand concluded with 18 outcomes spanning maritime security, counter-terrorism, trade, and cultural cooperation. Both nations elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership and set a target to double bilateral trade to NZD 7 billion (Rs 35,000 crore) by 2030, building on a recently concluded Free Trade Agreement.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, "This has been a great year for the India-New Zealand partnership. Earlier this year, our nations concluded a Free Trade Agreement in record time and now, we have elevated our ties to a Strategic Partnership. Next up, we wish to double bilateral trade by 2030!"
Maritime and Defence Cooperation
A Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Cooperation between India's Ministry of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force establishes a framework for enhanced maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific through dialogue, coordination, information exchange, and joint activities. An Implementation Arrangement on Hydrography and Nautical Cartography strengthens joint production of navigational charts, hydrographic data sharing, training, and capacity building.
An Arrangement on Mutual Logistics Support between the Indian Navy and the New Zealand Defence Force facilitates reciprocal logistics support during approved activities and operations. Additionally, both sides agreed to establish a Maritime Security Dialogue to strengthen cooperation, coordination, and information exchange.
Counter-Terrorism and Disaster Management
An Arrangement on establishing a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism will strengthen cooperation, exchange information, and coordinate efforts to combat terrorism. A Memorandum of Cooperation between India's National Disaster Management Authority and New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency promotes collaboration in disaster risk management, focusing on earthquake resilience, tsunami preparedness, coastal hazard mitigation, knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and capacity building.
Economic and Sectoral Agreements
In agriculture, a Memorandum of Cooperation in Animal Husbandry and Dairying creates a framework for technical collaboration, knowledge exchange, and best practices. Under the Agricultural Productivity Partnership under the FTA, a Kiwifruit Action Plan is being launched, along with two Centres of Excellence in Nagaland and Uttarakhand, supported by collaboration in education, skills development, and agricultural innovation.
A Memorandum of Arrangement in Tourism promotes cooperation to strengthen economic ties, increase tourist flow, and enhance mutual cultural understanding. An India-New Zealand Joint Action Plan on Sport provides a framework for collaboration in high-performance sport, sports science, sports medicine, and athlete development.
Cultural and Heritage Cooperation
A Memorandum of Arrangement for development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat, between NMHC and the New Zealand Maritime Museum provides a framework for cooperation through mutually agreed projects. An Arrangement on Cultural Cooperation between the Ministry of Culture of India and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage of New Zealand promotes exchanges in arts, heritage, and cultural initiatives to strengthen people-to-people ties.
Multilateral and Energy Initiatives
Under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), New Zealand has joined the maritime security pillar to undertake specific cooperation activities focused on combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. New Zealand also joined the Global Biofuels Alliance to accelerate the development and adoption of sustainable biofuels for cleaner energy transition.
Research and Education
An MoU between the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, and the University of Canterbury, NZ, establishes a framework for collaboration in Antarctic research, promoting joint research, academic exchange, capacity building, and other scientific activities. Another MoU between the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K) and Massey University, New Zealand, establishes cooperation in research, academic exchange, student mobility, and other educational activities.
Strategic Roadmap
The India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership and Roadmap to 2030 provides a strategic roadmap to guide structured implementation across relevant ministries and stakeholders for the next four years, strengthening cooperation in trade, defence, maritime security, tourism, culture, sports, agri-tech, people-to-people ties, and coordination on Indo-Pacific priorities and multilateral issues.
