PM Modi To Go On His First Visit To New Zealand Next Week, PM Luxon Says He’s ‘Delighted’ To Host

Last Updated:July 03, 2026, 10:01 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his first visit to New Zealand. The island nation's PM Luxon said he is delighted at the prospect and emphasised India's importance.

Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon on Friday announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his first official visit to New Zealand next week.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his first official visit to New Zealand next week, his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon announced on X on Friday. This will be PM Modi’s first visit to Australia’s smaller neighbour.

The New Zealand PM said in the tweet that this meeting between the two leaders will take the relationship between their two countries to the next level. New Zealand and India have also made a Free Trade Agreement, which Luxon expects will facilitate the enhancement of the bilateral relation.

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was signed between India and New Zealand in April this year.

“This (the FTA) will unlock new opportunities to grow our goods and services exports into a market of 1.4 billion people – bringing more money into Kiwi communities, creating jobs and lifting wages," Prime Minister Luxon said.

What Benefits Does New Zealand Get With This FTA

The New Zealand Prime Minister also described India as a very important country for his country’s prosperity. The India-New Zealand FTA “will deliver more jobs, higher exports, and stronger economic growth for New Zealand", Luxon claimed in the tweet.

In May, when India and New Zealand were just finalising their trade deal, the Trade and Investment Minister, of the island nation, Todd McClay had said that the mutual trade between the two nations is poised to double within a few years because of this ‘high-quality’ FTA.

This FTA caters to the consumers in New Zealand who seek “high-quality goods and services" which are readily available in India, McClay had said, speaking with ANI back then.

How Does India Benefit From This FTA

McClay had also asserted, at that time, that the New Zealand government is committed to promoting up to $20 billion in investment into India over the next 15 years.

To accelerate investment clearances and facilitate this flow of capital, the Indian government agreed to establish a special New Zealand “single desk". “It’s easier for New Zealanders to invest," he said.

In April 2026. India and New Zealand announced the signing of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) marking a historic milestone in bilateral economic relations. It is a comprehensive framework encompassing market access, agricultural productivity, investment, talent mobility, collaboration in sports, tourism, and people-to-people ties. The FTA is designed to benefit manufacturers, farmers, MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, students, and skilled professionals across both nations.

(With ANI inputs)

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