Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 17: New Zealand’s minister of police, Mark Mitchell, who is part of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visiting delegation, lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong emphasis on sports and recreation, acknowledging its significance for India.
Mitchell said, “PM Modi has placed a strong focus on sports and recreation, recognising its crucial role for India. The same applies to us—we understand the importance of sports and aim to strengthen this relationship further. As the minister for sport and recreation, I will be holding meetings on this subject. There is much we can learn from each other, and we are committed to deepening these ties. Sports diplomacy is a powerful tool, especially in today’s rapidly changing and uncertain world.”
Highlighting broader areas of cooperation, Mitchell added, “There are many fields where we can work together and learn from each other. Both our countries rely significantly on agriculture and primary industries, offering numerous opportunities for collaboration.”
Meanwhile, in a major development, India and New Zealand announced the launch of negotiations for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The announcement came as PM Luxon received a warm welcome upon his arrival in Delhi for his first official visit to India.
The ministry of commerce and industry stated that the move marks a key step towards strengthening bilateral trade and economic relations. A crucial meeting between India’s commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s minister for trade and investment Todd McClay laid the foundation for this partnership.
Both nations share deep-rooted ties based on democratic values, strong people-to-people connections, and economic complementarities. Over the years, efforts have been made to enhance trade and investment between the two countries.
The India-New Zealand FTA negotiations seek to achieve balanced outcomes, enhancing supply chain integration and market access. This milestone reflects a shared vision for a robust economic partnership, fostering resilience and prosperity.
PM Luxon, who will be in India till March 20, is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, senior officials, business leaders, media representatives, and members of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand.