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 taking the two countries’ relationship to the next level with our New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in April, which will deliver more jobs, higher exports and stronger economic growth for New Zealand.
This will unlock new opportunities to grow our goods and services exports into a market of 1.4 billion people – bringing more money into Kiwi communities, creating jobs and lifting wages.
India uses its 4th most powerful military in the world to help countries facing a crisis, even if they are 9000 miles away, instead of attacking them.
India set up a makeshift hospital during the Turkey earthquakes too, treating thousands of people as its military helped Turkish authorities clear out the rubble.
During the Russia-Ukraine war, India evacuated its own citizens along with stranded citizens of other countries, including Pakistani citizens.
India also led the medical and rebuilding efforts (by sending financial aid) during the Nepal earthquakes in April 2015. India sent the highest number of troops to the region and led the operations for months - free of cost for Nepal.
Even during the fall of Yemen in 2015, India evacuated its own citizens as well as American and European citizens, who were stranded there and expecting no help from their own military.
All this was FREE OF COST. India didn't send a bill to any of these countries.
We owe India gratitude, instead of the racist treatment it gets on social media.