India and New Zealand elevate ties to Strategic Partnership, adopt Roadmap to 2030
- IBEF
- July 13, 2026
India and New Zealand have elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership and adopted the India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership Roadmap to 2030, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations during Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi's official visit. The two countries signed 10 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen cooperation across defence, maritime security, trade, disaster management, agriculture, tourism, sports, culture and scientific research. Key agreements include a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Cooperation, hydrography and nautical cartography, and a Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement between the Indian Navy and the New Zealand Defence Force. Both countries also agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and a Maritime Security Dialogue to enhance regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of India and New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) signed an agreement to collaborate on earthquake resilience, tsunami preparedness, coastal hazard mitigation and capacity building. The partnership is expected to deepen strategic engagement while strengthening regional security and resilience.
Economic and sectoral cooperation also received a major boost through agreements covering animal husbandry, dairying, tourism, sports, culture, maritime heritage and scientific research. The two countries have set a target of doubling bilateral trade to Rs. 38,876.42 crore (US$ 4.06 billion) by 2030, supported by the recently concluded India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. New Zealand also announced its decision to join the Global Biofuels Alliance, reinforcing collaboration on clean energy and sustainable fuels. To strengthen agricultural cooperation, both countries launched a Kiwifruit Action Plan and announced two Centres of Excellence for Kiwifruit in Nagaland and Uttarakhand. Additional collaborations include Antarctic research between the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and the University of Canterbury, as well as academic partnerships between NIFTEM-Kundli and Massey University. These initiatives are expected to expand trade, innovation, sustainable agriculture and people-to-people exchanges while advancing long-term cooperation under the Roadmap to 2030.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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