Modi’s New Zealand visit, the first by an Indian PM in nearly 40 years, centres on new trade deal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day state visit to New Zealand, beginning July 10, marks the first state visit by an Indian prime minister to the country in nearly four decades, following an invitation from his counterpart Christopher Luxon.

The visit comes as New Zealand and India move to implement a Free Trade Agreement signed in April, which Luxon said would deliver “more jobs, higher exports and stronger economic growth” for New Zealand. Announcing the details this week, Luxon said 57% of New Zealand’s exports to India would be tariff-free from day one under the deal, while all Indian exports will receive duty-free access to the New Zealand market.

During his visit to Auckland, Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Luxon to review the full spectrum of India-New Zealand ties, with a focus on trade, commerce and defence cooperation. He is also expected to meet business and sports leaders and address the Indian diaspora.

For India, the agreement is expected to strengthen its presence in a high-income Pacific economy as part of its broader Indo-Pacific economic strategy, while New Zealand gains greater access to one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies amid global trade uncertainty.