SYLLABUS

GS-2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited New Zealand, the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years, during which both countries elevated their bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and adopted the India–New Zealand Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2030.

Key Outcomes

• Strategic Partnership: India and New Zealand elevated bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership and adopted the roadmap to 2030 to guide cooperation over the next four years. 

• Trade and Economic Cooperation: Both countries concluded the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA). 

• Set a target to double bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion (≈₹35,000 crore) by 2030. 

• Defence and Maritime Cooperation: Signed three major maritime agreements covering maritime cooperation, hydrography & nautical cartography, and mutual logistics support. 

• Agreed to establish an Annual Maritime Security Dialogue. 
• New Zealand joined the Maritime Security Pillar of India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). 
• Both countries welcomed cooperation under Combined Task Force-150 (CTF-150) in 2025, with New Zealand in command and India as Deputy Commander, supporting efforts against narcotics smuggling, terrorism and illicit maritime activities.

• Counter-Terrorism and Security: Established a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (JWG-CT). 

• Agreed to strengthen cooperation against terrorism, cyber threats, organised crime and narcotics trafficking. 

• Agriculture and Dairy: Signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Animal Husbandry and Dairying. 

• Launched the Kiwifruit Action Plan and announced Centres of Excellence in Nagaland and Uttarakhand under the Agricultural Productivity Partnership. 

• Tourism and Connectivity: Signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Tourism. 

• Encouraged commencement of direct non-stop flights between India and New Zealand. 

• Education, Research and Innovation: Strengthened cooperation in education, science, innovation and climate-resilient agriculture. 

• Signed MoUs between NCPOR–University of Canterbury (Antarctic research) and NIFTEM–Massey University (food technology and academic collaboration). 

• Disaster Management and Climate: Signed an MoU between NDMA (India) and NEMA (New Zealand) on disaster management. 

• New Zealand joined the Global Biofuels Alliance, while both countries agreed to deepen cooperation through the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). 

• Culture and People-to-People Relations: Signed agreements on Cultural Cooperation, National Maritime Heritage Complex–New Zealand Maritime Museum collaboration, and adopted the India–New Zealand Joint Action Plan on Sport. 

• Regional and Multilateral Cooperation: Reaffirmed commitment to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific. 

• New Zealand reiterated support for India's permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council and India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).