Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
MP Satnam Sandhu welcomes New Zealand delegation of MPs, business, community leaders at Parliament
New Zealand PM, delegation visit Indian Parliament, engage with PM Modi, witness budget session
Babushahi BUreau
New Delhi, March 18 – A high-profile New Zealand delegation, led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and comprising Members of Parliament (MPs), and business and community leaders, visited India’s Parliament House as part of their five-day official visit.
The delegation witnessed the ongoing Budget Session proceedings and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss strengthening bilateral ties.
The delegation included sitting MPs Andy Foster, Carlos Cheung, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, former MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Bhav Dhillon (Patron, India-New Zealand Business Council & former Honorary Consul of India in Auckland), and key business and community representatives.
Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu warmly welcomed the delegation at Parliament. During the visit, MP Sandhu escorted them to the Special Box, where they observed the parliamentary proceedings.
The delegation also toured the Constitutional Gallery, where Sandhu briefed them on India's democratic journey, the history of Parliament, and the country’s rich political and spiritual heritage.
India-New Zealand Bilateral Talks & Economic Cooperation
During the bilateral talks between PM Modi and PM Luxon, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening India-New Zealand relations, anchored in shared democratic values and strong people-to-people ties.
They recognized the immense potential for growth in trade, investment, defence, education, science & technology, agri-tech, and space collaboration.
One of the key takeaways from the discussions was the announcement of negotiations for a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to boost economic integration.
Both leaders also emphasized the importance of parliamentary exchanges and encouraged frequent delegation visits between the two nations.
Historic Visit & Raisina Dialogue Participation
Prime Minister Luxon, who is on his first official visit to India from March 16-20, has brought the largest-ever delegation of business and community leaders accompanying a New Zealand PM to India.
He will be the chief guest at the 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue, India’s flagship geopolitics and geo-economics conference, where he will deliver the keynote address.
Both countries also acknowledged their shared military history, with Indian and New Zealand service personnel having fought alongside each other in global conflicts over the past century.
This visit marks a significant step in strengthening diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between India and New Zealand, setting the stage for deeper cooperation in the future.