Modi says India-New Zealand trade deal will open new opportunities

Auckland,UPDATED: Jul 11, 2026 19:18 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India's pace of development is "unprecedented" despite global challenges, and that the country is offering the world new models of development. Speaking at the 'Kia Ora Modi' community event in Auckland, attended by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Modi said the India-New Zealand relationship is rooted in cherished memories, enduring friendship, shared values and mutual commitment.

Modi said the future of India and New Zealand is intertwined and that the trade agreement between the two countries would create fresh opportunities for businesses and support India's journey towards becoming a developed nation. Luxon, calling the visit historic, said the relationship had the warmth of "a family reunion that's been waiting 40 years in the making".

Addressing a gathering of more than 10,000 members of the Indian diaspora, Modi said, "Amidst global challenges, the speed at which India is developing is unprecedented. Today, India is the world's fastest-growing major economy." He added, "Today in India, billions of digital transactions are happening every month through UPI. India is touching new heights in drone technology and the space economy." He said the space sector itself showed the potential of the economic partnership between India and New Zealand.

On the trade agreement, Modi said, "The same spirit is reflected in our trade agreement. This agreement will accelerate our journey towards a developed India. It will create new opportunities for businesses in both India and New Zealand." He added, "This is the picture of the new India, showing how India is maintaining a balance in both ecology and economy, just like New Zealand." Modi, who arrived in Auckland on Friday on the final leg of his three-nation tour, also said both countries shared a commitment to celebrating and preserving indigenous cultures.

The Prime Minister, on his first visit to New Zealand by an Indian prime minister in 40 years, showed the crowd a muffler and said he had received it along with a cap and glove during a visit to the country 25 to 30 years ago, before he entered public life. Referring to New Zealand's culture, he said, "A beautiful expression from New Zealand's culture captures the essence of this relationship -- Waka. For centuries, this word has symbolised bringing people together. A Waka is not merely a boat. It is a symbol of a shared journey. Today, the India-New Zealand Waka is ready to embark on a new voyage together." He added, "A vast ocean of opportunities lies before India and New Zealand."

Modi thanked Luxon, government officials and members of the Labour Party, saying their presence reflected strong bipartisan support for India-New Zealand ties and was also proof of the achievements of the Kiwi-Indian community. He said local people had embraced the Indian community in New Zealand, and mentioned Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil Ravi Shankar, Governor-General Anand Satyananda and cricketer Rachin Ravindra. He also said, "New Zealand is the place where Indian cities have been respected even on the streets."

He said India had always transformed itself by remaining willing to learn from others. "For us, it is not the size of a country's population that matters, but its commitment to the welfare of its people, and therefore, we have learnt a lot from New Zealand and are still learning from it," he said. Modi said women were contributing on a massive scale in New Zealand's society, and added that India too was opening new doors for women through "women-led development". Stressing India's focus on heritage along with economy and ecology, he referred to the sacred Saroop of the Guru Granth Sahib and said India had brought it from Afghanistan with "the utmost respect and reverence" during a crisis there.

Modi urged the Indian community to continue acting as a bridge of friendship, trust and cooperation between the two countries, so that the full potential of the Strategic Partnership could be realised. He also noted that 2026 would mark 100 years of sporting collaboration and said both countries were keen to deepen sporting ties further.

Speaking at the event, Luxon thanked Modi for what he called his historic first visit. He recalled that his own first trip to India was in his mid-twenties as a young executive at Unilever. He said New Zealand had signed a free trade agreement with India, opening a market of 1.4 billion people, and added, "India is not just a country we trade with, it is a country that we grow with, and most importantly, it is a country we trust." The event underlined Modi's message on India's rapid growth and the two leaders' push to widen cooperation between India and New Zealand.

With PTI Inputs

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