Christopher Luxon says Indian PM Narendra Modi visiting NZ will be ‘historic’

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is interested in learning about New Zealand’s high-tech sector and high-performance sport, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says.

Luxon told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast that Modi’s visit to Auckland on Friday will be a “historic event”.

“Obviously, he’s a major leader from a major world power,” he said.

Luxon said Modi arrives late on Friday, with formal bilateral meetings held on Saturday.

Then around midday, a live forum would be held to showcase six or seven business sectors “that are of interest to India”, followed by a celebration lunch.

“He’s really interested in sport because they want to host the Olympics ultimately in 2036 and the Commonwealth Games. And of course India hasn’t performed as well in the Olympics as it possibly could have,” Luxon said.

“So he’s interested in our high tech and our high performance sport approach, given how we perform.”

Modi’s visit will end with a “massive community event” on Saturday that thousands of local Kiwi Indians are expected to attend.

Given the significance and mechanics of the visit, Luxon said there was no doubt there’ll be a “very significant police security presence”.

On Sunday, Luxon appeared at the Port of Auckland, flanked by National’s trade spokesman Todd McClay and Auckland Central candidate Candace Kinser, to announce a new global trade policy their party will campaign on before this year’s election.

The policy identifies seven emerging and developed “priority markets” that National said it will prioritise trade talks with if re-elected, with six longer-term markets of interest.

The “priority markets” named in the first tranche include Brazil, Switzerland, Argentina, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Uruguay and the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).

Together, they represent 700 million people with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of more than US$5 trillion ($8.76t).

A second tranche, consisting of South Africa, Turkey, Colombia, Morocco, Sri Lanka and Mauritius, would be priorities to advance over the next decade.

Luxon said National’s trade policy comes off the back of recently signed agreements with India, the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

“I just think we’ve actually built very good capability in trade,” he said.

“When you look at those three FTAs and the acceleration of the European one, that’s good. And what I’m saying is, look, let’s keep pushing.”

Luxon said he hoped strengthening ties with other countries and working to eliminate trade barriers would give more “optionality” for Kiwi traders.

“We’ve historically been so reliant on a couple of key markets, and now when you talk to our exporters ... if they’re not making money in the US, they can move it into India or into Europe.

“We want more of that.”

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