Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday invited New Zealand businesses to expand their presence in India, describing the country as “not only a market” but “a launchpad for global growth,” as he addressed a gathering of leading CEOs and business executives alongside New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at an India-New Zealand business event in Auckland.
The interaction took place during Modi’s historic visit to New Zealand—the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years—and came soon after the two countries elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership. As part of the new framework, India and New Zealand unveiled a Roadmap to 2030, setting an ambitious goal of doubling bilateral trade to NZD 7 billion (around Rs 35,000 crore) by the end of the decade.
Addressing business leaders, Modi said India and New Zealand are bound by shared democratic values, respect for the rule of law, diversity and a common commitment to sustainable development, creating a strong foundation for a modern and future-oriented economic partnership.
He described the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement as a transformative initiative that would inject greater momentum into bilateral economic ties by opening new avenues for market access, investment, services, technology collaboration and the movement of skilled talent.
Highlighting India’s economic rise, the Prime Minister said sustained high growth, a young and skilled workforce, a rapidly expanding middle class, a thriving digital economy, world-class infrastructure development and ongoing structural reforms have made India one of the world’s most attractive investment destinations.
“India is not only a market. India is a launchpad for global growth. Together, let us take this economic partnership to new heights!” Modi said in a post on social media platform X following the event.
He said India’s political stability and consistent economic performance have positioned it as a key driver of global growth and urged New Zealand companies to become active partners in the country’s development journey.
Modi identified infrastructure, civil aviation, logistics, clean energy, urban mobility, water and waste management, and the digital economy as sectors offering immense opportunities for collaboration. He also highlighted India’s vibrant start-up ecosystem and called for deeper partnerships in innovation, financial technology and emerging technologies.
Pointing to the complementary strengths of the two economies, Modi said New Zealand’s expertise in dairy science, horticulture and forestry could be combined with India’s vast consumer base, food-processing capabilities and agri-tech talent to create globally competitive agricultural value chains.
Calling for stronger private-sector engagement, the Prime Minister said enhanced investments and commercial partnerships would be essential for achieving the shared objective of doubling bilateral trade to NZD 7 billion by 2030.
“The India-New Zealand economic partnership can become a model for inclusive and sustainable trade and a platform for innovation and prosperity,” he said.
The business interaction was a key component of Modi’s official engagements in Auckland, where both Prime Ministers have sought to significantly expand cooperation across trade, defence, maritime security, agriculture, education, technology, sports and people-to-people exchanges.
The elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and the renewed emphasis on economic engagement underscore the commitment of New Delhi and Wellington to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific while unlocking the untapped potential of their commercial relationship.
Business leaders from both countries are expected to play a pivotal role in translating the political momentum generated during the visit into long-term investments, technology collaborations and sustained trade growth.