Indian Prime Minister to make first official visit to New Zealand next week

SYDNEY — New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Friday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his first official visit to New Zealand next week.

Luxon said the visit marks a significant milestone in bilateral relations, noting it will be the first time in 40 years that an Indian prime minister has traveled to New Zealand.

The two countries signed a free trade agreement in April that is set to eliminate tariffs on 95% of New Zealand goods, strengthening economic ties between the partners.

“Prime Minister Modi’s visit is historic, with this being the first to New Zealand by an Indian prime minister in 40 years,” Luxon said in a statement.

Modi is scheduled to arrive in Auckland on July 10 and will depart the following day. -Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Jacqueline Wong/Reuters