New Delhi, May 30, 2025 (ANI): "In an increasingly multi-polar world, India is emerging as a geopolitical giant and a vital security actor both regionally and globally...", says, Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of New Zealand
He says, "... A significant step forward came with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Air New Zealand and Air India, aiming to explore a codeshare agreement across 16 routes covering India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. This move will ease travel between our nations, strengthening tourism, educational exchanges, and business links... But our partnership with India extends far beyond economics. It reaches into defence and security — a growing priority for New Zealand in the Indo-Pacific..."
He further says, "... In these uncertain and unstable times, we’ve taken deliberate steps to build closer defence ties with India. A recently signed defence cooperation arrangement paves the way for greater collaboration between our armed forces. The New Zealand Navy currently leads Combined Task Force 150, tasked with securing vital trade routes and countering terrorism, smuggling, and piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. India’s role as deputy commander in this mission is a strong signal of our growing strategic alignment... The impact is real — the taskforce has already disrupted over $600 million worth of illegal drug trade..."
He says, "... A significant step forward came with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Air New Zealand and Air India, aiming to explore a codeshare agreement across 16 routes covering India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. This move will ease travel between our nations, strengthening tourism, educational exchanges, and business links... But our partnership with India extends far beyond economics. It reaches into defence and security — a growing priority for New Zealand in the Indo-Pacific..."
He further says, "... In these uncertain and unstable times, we’ve taken deliberate steps to build closer defence ties with India. A recently signed defence cooperation arrangement paves the way for greater collaboration between our armed forces. The New Zealand Navy currently leads Combined Task Force 150, tasked with securing vital trade routes and countering terrorism, smuggling, and piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. India’s role as deputy commander in this mission is a strong signal of our growing strategic alignment... The impact is real — the taskforce has already disrupted over $600 million worth of illegal drug trade..."
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Now India's trend lines are nothing short of stunning.
00:05These words are not said here today to ingratiate ourselves with you.
00:10It simply is a fact.
00:12India's growth rate is well known to us and it's breathtaking.
00:17The fastest growing economy in the G20 and on track to be the world's third largest economy
00:23in the coming years.
00:26India's middle class is now almost half a billion strong.
00:30In the last decade alone, 250 million Indians have been lifted out of poverty.
00:37India's aviation industry has soared with the number of airports more than doubling to
00:42157 and a new highway network covering 95,000 kilometres, enough to drive between New Zealand
00:53and India eight times.
00:56Globally, India has cemented itself as a key player, hosting the D20 summit in 2023 and
01:04landing a spacecraft on the moon's south pole two years ago.
01:09Now India's trend lines are nothing short of stunning.
01:14These words are not said here today to ingratiate ourselves with you.
01:19It simply is a fact.
01:22India's growth rate is well known to us and it's breathtaking.
01:26The fastest growing economy in the D20 and on track to be the world's third largest economy
01:32in the coming years.
01:36India's middle class is now almost half a billion strong.
01:39In the last decade alone, 250 million Indians have been lifted out of poverty.
01:48India's aviation industry has soared with the number of airports more than doubling to 157
01:56and a new highway network covering 95,000 kilometres, enough to drive between New Zealand and India eight times.
02:06These are not mere statistics, they represent an extraordinary economic transformation.
02:16Globally, India has cemented itself as a key player, hosting the D20 summit in 2023 and landing a spacecraft on the moon's south pole two years ago, a testimony to its growing influence.
02:31For New Zealand, India represents immense untapped potential.
02:38Despite India's economic scale, it remains only our 12th largest partner in trade, accounting for just 1.5% of our exports.
02:50We are determined that we are going to work to change that.
02:57Our strengths from food and beverage products to agriculture, forestry, horticulture, education and tourism are world class.
03:07And our innovation in areas like outer space and renewable energy will find a welcoming partner in India.
03:15On the question of outer space, we are number three in putting rockets into space now.
03:20And not many people in India know that, or do I say it around the rest of the world, but it happens to be a fact.
03:27Earlier in this term, we clearly expressed our intent to build a deeper and broader relationship with India.
03:36But as Mahatma Gandhi said, and I quote, an ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching, end of quotes.
03:48So we have followed through with practical action to broaden our relationship.
03:53We have sought to increase the tempo and seniority of engagements between our politicians.
04:02Our first overseas visit outside our home region of Australia and the Pacific was to India, where we visited both Gujarat and New Delhi in March of 2024.
04:13The Trade Minister has visited India five times.
04:18And in March of this year, Prime Minister Luxon visited India on one of New Zealand's largest ever prime ministerial missions.
04:28And we enthusiastically welcomed India's President to New Zealand in August of 2024.
04:35And just recently, the Minister of State for External Affairs, Margarita.
04:40Since the foreign policy reset, we've made concrete strides.
04:45We've launched negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement, a breakthrough in our economic relationship.
04:52But even more than that milestone, we have put in place measures to deepen the economic relationship,
05:01with new arrangements in horticulture, forestry and education also recently finalised.
05:07Additionally, we have seen a memorandum of understanding signed between Air New Zealand and Air India,
05:14to explore a codeshare agreement on 16 routes across India, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
05:22This will make travel between our nations easier, boosting tourism, education and business connections.
05:29But our relationship with India goes well beyond economic ties.
05:34It extends to defence and security, a priority for New Zealand in the Indo-Pacific.
05:43In an emerging multipolar world, India is evolving into a geopolitical giant,
05:50an indispensable security actor in both regional and global spheres.
05:56During a time, ladies and gentlemen, of great uncertainty, instability and disorder,
06:02we have taken steps to work more closely on matters of defence and security with India.
06:08A recently signed defence cooperation arrangement will facilitate closer links between our militaries.
06:15Meanwhile, we have taken practical steps to work closely together with this country and New Zealand.
06:27The New Zealand Navy is leading combined Task Force 150, charged with securing trade routes,
06:32encountering terrorism, smuggling and piracy in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.
06:38India's involvement in this mission as the Deputy Commander of the Task Force
06:42underscores the growing closeness of our defence ties.
06:46The Task Force has already had some serious real impact,
06:50disrupting the trade of 600 million worth of illegal drugs so far.
06:56Now, with tensions arising in the Indo-Pacific,
06:59it's crucial for New Zealand to work hand-in-hand with India and other like-minded partners
07:05to ensure the region remains free and open.