PM Modi to make his maiden visit to New Zealand next week: PM Luxon

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be undertaking his maiden visit to New Zealand, his Kiwi counterpart Christopher Luxon confirmed on Friday. In his post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Luxon said that PM Modi's first official visit to the country will take place next week.

Luxon maintained that the visit would aim to take the two nations' ties to the next level. It is coming at a time when India and New Zealand signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in April this year. In his post on X, New Zealand's prime minister wrote: "I'm delighted to announce Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his first official visit to New Zealand next week. India is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing economies, and a country of enormous importance to New Zealand's economic prosperity.

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"We are taking the two countries' relationship to the next level with our New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in April, which will deliver more jobs, higher exports and stronger economic growth for New Zealand," Luxon furthered.

The New Zealand premier emphasised that PM Modi's visit would unlock new opportunities to grow exports of goods and services of both nations. "This 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," Luxon said.

India and New Zealand push for greater ties

It is pertinent to note that in May this year, New Zealand Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay noted that the two-way trade between New Delhi and Wellington is poised to double within a few years.

The Kiwi minister told ANI that the FTA caters to New Zealand's consumers who seek high-quality goods and services, which, he mentioned, are readily available in the Indian market. The New Zealand government is also committed to promoting up to USD 20 billion in investment into India over the next 15 years.

To facilitate this flow of capital, the Indian government, earlier this year, agreed to establish a special New Zealand "single desk" to streamline and accelerate investment clearances.

"The Indian government has agreed to set up a special New Zealand desk or single desk to help clear those investments, and so they can take place a lot more quickly. It's easier for New Zealanders to invest," he told ANI. In April 2026, India and New Zealand announced the signing of the Free Trade Agreement, marking a historic milestone in bilateral economic relations.

The FTA is a comprehensive framework encompassing market access, agricultural productivity, investment, talent mobility, collaboration in sports, tourism, and people-to-people ties. The deal between the two nations is designed to benefit manufacturers, farmers, MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, students and skilled professionals across both nations.

With inputs from agencies.