India New Zealand sign agreement to boost Defence & Trade ties

India and New Zealand have signed five agreements including on defence and agreed to launch a negotiation on free trade area agreement to boost the trade ties between the two countries.

The agreements were signed during the visit of New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to India. 

Christopher Luxon was on his first official visit to India from 16-20 March 2025. 

Christopher Luxon Visit to New Delhi and Mumbai

During his visit to India,Christopher Luxon visited New Delhi and Mumbai.

He first visited New Delhi where he was received at the Indira Gandhi International Airport by the Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Professor S.P. Singh Baghel.

In  New Delhi he met the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu,External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Paraksh Nadda.

He also inaugurated the 10th Raisina Dialogue 2025 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 17 March 2025.

Mumbai Visit 

He visited Mumbai on 19 and 20th March. During his visit to Mumbai he met Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devandra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Governor C.P Radhakrishnan and Indian business leaders.

He also visited Indian naval ship INS Surat and the Royal New Zealand ship HMNZS Te Kaha, which is making a port call in Mumbai.

Agreements signed between India and New Zealand 

During his visit to New Delhi, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held summit level discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Both sides discussed bilateral, regional and national issues. They issued a joint statement after the end of their talks.

Both the countries agreed to launch negotiation on a Free Trade Area agreement.

The leaders also witnessed the signing of five agreements and exchange of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries .

Five MoU and Agreements 

• MoU to further Defence Cooperation between India and New Zealand;
• Memorandum of Cooperation on Horticulture;
• Memorandum of Cooperation in Sports;
• Cooperation Agreement between the two countries on Education;
• Cooperation on Forestry.

Both sides exchanged Authorized Economic Operators Mutual Recognition Agreement. The agreement will facilitate  easier movement of goods between the two countries through close cooperation between customs authorities and is expected to boost bilateral trade.

New Zealand Welcomes India joining Combined Maritime Force 

New Zealand welcome India’s joining of the multinational Combined Maritime Force 

Combined Maritime Force is a multinational maritime partnership that focuses on counter-smuggling,counter-narcotics, suppressing piracy on the high seas and to promote a safe maritime environment free from illicit non-state actors. 

The Combined Maritime Force is commanded by the U.S. Navy Vice Admiral.

At present it has 46 member countries including India.

The Combined Maritime Force has five Combined Task Force (CTF) including the CTF 150.

The CTF 150 based in Bahrain is currently led by the Royal New Zealand Navy.

It is responsible for maritime security operations in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman excluding Arabian Gulf.

The Indian Navy has committed to deploy five of its staff members during the period the Royal New Zealand Navy is heading the CTF 150.

New Zealand Joins Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative and CDRI

New Zealand will join two international initiatives of the government of India -the Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative

• The Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative was put forward by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 14th East Asian Summit Meeting held in  Bangkok, Thailand in 2019.
• The Indo Pacific Initiative is a voluntary agreement between countries to promote free and open rules based order in the Indo Pacific region.

Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)

• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit  at New York ,USA.
• The CDRI is an international organisation that aims to promote and develop resilience of infrastructure systems resilient to climate change and disaster risks. 

Headquarters: New Delhi

About New Zealand 

New Zealand is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean.

It gained independence from Great Britain in 1947 and is a member of the Commonwealth.

The indigenous population of New Zealand are maoris who are of Polynesian heritage.

The majority population are white settlers who came from Great Britain and Europe.

It is home to the flightless bird Kiwi.

Capital: Wellington

Currency: New Zealand Dollar

Head of the State: British Monarch King Charles III

Prime Minister: Christopher Luxon

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PM Modi & Christopher Luxon jointly inaugurate 10th Raisina Dialogue