India and New Zealand sign defence cooperation MoU during PM Christopher Luxon's visit; New Zealand joins IPOI and CDRI
New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon held talks with PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 17 March 2025 during his official visit of 16–20 March; the two sides signed a defence cooperation MoU and New Zealand joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
Summary
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, on an official visit to India from 16 to 20 March 2025 (his first visit to India as Prime Minister), held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 17 March 2025. The outcomes released the same day included a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation, an Authorised Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement (AEO-MRA) between the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and the New Zealand Customs Service, a Memorandum of Cooperation on horticulture, a Letter of Intent on forestry cooperation, a renewed education cooperation arrangement and a Memorandum of Cooperation on sports. New Zealand joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and became a member of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. The leaders welcomed the launch of negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement and agreed to begin negotiations on a professional mobility arrangement. The joint statement noted that people of Indian origin make up about 6% of New Zealand's population.
Key facts
- Date
- 17 March 2025, New Delhi
- Visit
- 16–20 March 2025; Luxon's first visit as PM
- Defence
- MoU on defence cooperation
- Customs
- AEO-MRA: CBIC and NZ Customs Service
- Groupings
- NZ joins IPOI; becomes CDRI member
- Trade
- FTA negotiations launched; professional mobility talks to begin
- Diaspora
- Indian-origin people ≈ 6% of NZ population
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Which country's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, held talks with PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 17 March 2025?
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Correct answer: D — New Zealand
Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, was on an official visit to India from 16 to 20 March 2025 and held talks with PM Modi on 17 March.
The Authorised Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement (AEO-MRA) signed during the India–New Zealand talks of 17 March 2025 was between New Zealand Customs Service and which Indian body?
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Correct answer: A — Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
The AEO-MRA was signed between the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the New Zealand Customs Service.
According to the India–New Zealand Joint Statement of 17 March 2025, people of Indian origin make up about what share of New Zealand's population?
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Correct answer: B — 6%
The joint statement noted that the Indian diaspora makes up about 6% of New Zealand's population.
Consider the following outcomes of PM Christopher Luxon's visit to India (March 2025): 1. New Zealand joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). 2. New Zealand became a member of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). 3. India and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
New Zealand joined IPOI and became a CDRI member. On trade, the leaders only welcomed the launch of negotiations on a comprehensive FTA — no agreement was signed.