Indian High Commission in Wellington said the meeting reaffirmed commitment of both countries to “further strengthen and take our partnership to greater heights.”
The Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan met New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Wednesday, discussing ways to enhance cooperation between both countries in several areas while reaffirming New Delhi’s commitment to further strengthen and take the partnership to a higher level.
“It was a great honour for the High Commissioner to meet with Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, this morning. Discussed enhancing cooperation across key sectors: trade, investment, education, culture, research and innovation,” Indian High Commission in New Zealand posted on X.
“Reaffirmed the commitment of both our countries to further strengthen and take our partnership to greater heights,” the post further added.
India and New Zealand have historically shared close and cordial ties. Both countries enjoy growing ties driven by strategic interests and economic mutual benefit, collaborating in trade, education, culture, research, and innovations overcoming geographic barriers to build a prosperous partnership.
Both nations enjoy a robust alliance based on mutual respect and shared goals. Despite geographical distances, there’s a strong bond and people-to-people contact through a large Indian diaspora. The presence of the large Indian diaspora in New Zealand acts as the foundation for close cultural cooperation between the two countries.
In October 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Luxon met on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Summit in Vientiane, Laos. Both leaders recalled the visit of the President of India Droupadi Murmu to New Zealand in August 2024, which was a huge success. PM Modi welcomed New Zealand’s decision to join the International Solar Alliance and also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Luxon to visit India.
“Had an excellent meeting with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr. Christopher Luxon. We value our friendship with New Zealand, bound together by a commitment to democracy, freedom, and rule of law. Our talks covered sectors such as economic cooperation, tourism, education, and innovation,” PM Modi posted on X on October 10, 2024, after the meeting.
“Discussed enhancing cooperation across key sectors: trade, investment, education, culture, research and innovation,”
- Indian High Commission, New Zealand
NZ delegation visits Punjab’s dairy projects
Earlier this week, a delegation from New Zealand met Punjab’s Principal Secretary (Animal Husbandry) Rahul Bhandari here to discuss mutual collaboration in the animal husbandry sector, with a special focus on animal breeding and small-holder dairy systems.
Bhandari briefed the delegation, comprising Prof Garry Udy from the MPI, Prof Nicolas Lopez from Massey University and David Hayman from TRG/ABS, along with R.O. Gupta from the National Dairy Development Board, on the ongoing initiatives under the National Dairy Plan-I, which was launched in July 2013.
He said the project focuses on improving genetic merit in cattle and buffalo populations through progeny testing, genetic evaluation, and selective breeding.
Key objectives of the project include producing high genetic merit bulls for semen stations, establishing a robust system for genetic evaluation of young bulls, bull dams, and bull sires, and achieving steady genetic progress in milk, fat, SNF (solid not fat), and protein yields in cattle and buffalo populations.
Bhandari said that currently the project is being implemented across 160 institutions in three districts of Punjab — Patiala, Sangrur, and Barnala.
Significant milestones have been achieved under the project, including over 4,50,000 artificial inseminations, registration of 50,000 female calves, body measurements of 220,000 animals, milk recording and type classification of 6,000 calved daughters, and procurement of 650 high genetic merit male calves, he said.
He also emphasised the need for procuring high-quality bulls to further enhance milk production and quality in the state.
Meanwhile, the delegation also engaged in detailed discussions on management practices and visited project villages in Patiala district, including Chaswal, Saholi, and Laut, to interact with local farmers and observe the success of the Murrah Progeny Testing Project.
Accompanied by the Director of Animal Husbandry Dr G.S. Bedi, the New Zealand team expressed satisfaction on the working and progress of the project in the state.
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