India a political and economic powerhouse in Asia: New Zealand MP
Auckland/New Delhi, July 10 India is one of the world's most important rising powers and the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement comes at a crucial time as New Zealand adapts to an increasingly multipolar world, New Zealand Member of Parliament Phil Twyford said on Friday while welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country.
Speaking to IANS in Auckland, Twyford said India has emerged as a political and economic powerhouse in Asia and that New Zealand stands to benefit from a deeper partnership with the country.
"He's the Prime Minister of India. India is one of the most important rising powers in the world. We now live in a multipolar international environment. There's no longer just one superpower; there are many. And New Zealand's foreign policy has to catch up with that fact. So the free trade agreement with India is very timely in that respect. And we welcome the Prime Minister coming here," he said.
Calling Prime Minister Modi's visit "very significant," Twyford said the signing of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement marks an important milestone in bilateral ties.
"This is a time for a little country like New Zealand to have a free trade agreement with India. It's a very significant development in our relationship with India as a political and economic powerhouse in Asia, emerging as a great power. For New Zealand to have this deepening relationship, not just on a trade level, but on every kind of level, including people-to-people connections, that's very important for us," he told IANS.
Twyford also highlighted the opportunities for collaboration in technology and innovation, saying New Zealand could benefit from India's expertise and strong technology ecosystem.
"One of the benefits for a country like New Zealand, working more closely with India, is that we have access to many of the big Indian firms, the technology and the expertise. For us, digital technology is right up there in terms of our need to develop our economy. So there are huge opportunities for us to work together in that space," he said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's refreshing to hear a Western politician speak about India without the usual condescension. Twyford seems genuine about wanting a partnership of equals. But let's see how this FTA works out—trade deals always look great on paper but the devil is in the details. Hope Modi ji's visit leads to real outcomes, not just photo ops.
This is what we call "growing respect" in international diplomacy! India is no longer a developing nation begging for aid; we're a partner bringing tech, talent, and market access. The New Zealand dairy industry better be ready for some competition though! 😄 And yes, people-to-people ties—lots of Kiwis of Indian origin already bridging that gap.
Good for India, but let's not get carried away with the "powerhouse" rhetoric. India still has massive poverty, infrastructure issues, and bureaucratic hurdles. Being a rising power means we need to focus on internal development first. That said, Modi's push for trade deals is smart—it's about time the world sees India as more than a cheap labor market.
Wah! A New Zealand MP saying "multipolar world" and acknowledging India as a "rising power"—this is exactly what we need. No more looking at the West with a begging bowl. India's IT sector can definitely help Kiwis digitize, and they can send us some good dairy tech. Win-win! 👌
I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm a bit skeptical. India has signed many FTAs in the past and the
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