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India–New Zealand relations

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India–New Zealand relations

India–New Zealand relations refer to the interaction between India and New Zealand. Both these countries were once part of the British Empire. There are approximately 1,75,000 people of Indian descent in New Zealand.

Bilateral relations were established between India and New Zealand in 1952.

India–New Zealand relations were cordial but not extensive after Indian independence. More recently, New Zealand has shown interest in extending ties with India due to India's impressive GDP growth.

The countries set up a Joint Trade Committee in 1983 and have had discussions on a free trade agreement either bilaterally or through the East Asian Summit, but this has not emerged due to disagreements over agricultural subsidies. There is also some educational cooperation, with around 23,000 Indian students studying in New Zealand.

Defence cooperation has been more limited, but there have been joint naval exercises, and Indian and New Zealand troops have served together in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Kosovo and Sudan.

Pranab Mukherjee became the first Indian President to visit New Zealand in August 2016.

New Zealand India Research Institute

The New Zealand India Research Institute is a result of the increasing co-operation. Based at Victoria University in Wellington it will involve nearly 40 academics in five New Zealand universities – Victoria, Auckland, Massey, Canterbury and Otago - in research on India and NZ-India relations. The inaugural meeting of the India-New Zealand Education Council took place in 2012 when the Institute was established.

References

India–New Zealand relations Wikipedia