New Zealand PM looks to boost partnership with India

Wellington, Oct 17 New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is aiming to strengthen political and economic links with India during his visit to New Delhi next week.

Key, who is leading a business and education delegation from October 24 to 28, will hold talks in New Delhi with President Pranab Mukherjee, who visited New Zealand earlier this year, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Along with further strengthening New Zealand's political, security, and economic connections with India, my meeting with Prime Minister Modi will be an opportunity to discuss his efforts to reform India's economy and how New Zealand can be part of India' s growth," Key said in a statement Monday.

"India is a key partner for New Zealand. It is a leading source of skilled migrants, international students and tourists, and in the five years since I last visited our two way trade has grown by 41 per cent to 2.4 billion New Zealand dollars ($1 billion)."

Key, last visited India in 2011. Besides New Delhi, the Prime Minister will also visit Mumbai and Kochi.

IANS