India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit New Zealand as early as July, in what would mark his first official trip to the country.
Both the New Zealand and Indian governments signalled earlier this year that preparations were already underway, underlining how relations between the two countries have been steadily warming, with both sides showing a clear interest in closer cooperation and more frequent high-level contact.
When asked whether Narendra Modi would be visiting in July, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour said confirmation could come “very soon,” suggesting an announcement may not be far away.
Last month, New Zealand and India signed a major trade deal that will remove or reduce tariffs on 95% of New Zealand’s exports, making it easier for Kiwi goods to access the Indian market and boost trade between the two countries.
Sheep meat, wool, forestry products and seafood are among the key New Zealand exports set to benefit, with tariffs on many of them either cut sharply straight away or gradually reduced over a relatively short period.
More than half of New Zealand’s exports to India will become duty-free from day one, with that share increasing to over 80% over time, improving market access for Kiwi exporters.
Indian tariffs have long been high enough to effectively keep many New Zealand exporters out of the market.
The new reductions and removals change that dynamic, opening the door for India to shift from a largely untapped opportunity to a genuinely viable destination for Kiwi businesses.