PM Modi to Visit New Zealand Next Week on First Official Trip

July 3, 2026

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake his first official visit to New Zealand next week, marking a significant milestone in the growing relationship between the two countries. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the visit on Friday, describing India as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies and a key partner for New Zealand’s future economic prosperity.

I’m delighted to announce Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi 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.

We are…

— Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) July 3, 2026

In a post on X, Luxon said he was delighted to welcome PM Modi for his first official visit to the country. He noted that India plays an important role in New Zealand’s economic future and highlighted the growing cooperation between the two nations.

Visit Comes After Landmark Free Trade Agreement

PM Modi is scheduled to arrive in Auckland on July 10 and depart on July 11. The visit comes just over two months after India and New Zealand signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in April, a deal expected to significantly strengthen trade and investment ties.

According to Luxon, the agreement will eliminate tariffs on 95 per cent of goods exported from New Zealand, creating new opportunities for exporters and boosting jobs, wages and economic growth. The FTA is also expected to open access to India’s vast consumer market of more than 1.4 billion people.

For India, the agreement will allow duty-free imports of key manufacturing inputs such as wooden logs, coking coal, and waste and scrap metals. These measures are expected to reduce production costs, strengthen supply chains and improve the competitiveness of Indian industries.

Cooperation Beyond Trade

Apart from trade, the agreement includes collaboration in agriculture through a dedicated agrotechnology plan. The initiative will support Indian farmers by providing expertise in kiwi fruit, apple and honey production while encouraging greater cooperation in modern farming practices.

The two countries are also expected to deepen collaboration in sectors such as defence, investment, education and forestry. The visit is likely to provide fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation across multiple areas.

Strong and Growing Bilateral Partnership

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited India in March 2025, during which he held talks with PM Modi and launched negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement. Several agreements were also signed in defence, horticulture and forestry, laying the foundation for stronger strategic and economic ties.

India and New Zealand share a warm and multidimensional relationship based on shared democratic values, Commonwealth links and a common vision for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. PM Modi’s upcoming visit is expected to further strengthen this partnership and open new avenues for cooperation between the two countries.