Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal held a series of high-level meetings in Rotorua on the second day of his official visit to New Zealand, focusing on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
During his journey to Rotorua, Goyal met with Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil Ravishankar. The discussions centred on strengthening collaboration in aviation and tourism, with the Minister highlighting India’s rapidly growing aviation sector and the opportunities it offers for expanding air connectivity and passenger traffic between the two nations.
Upon his arrival in Rotorua, Goyal was welcomed by Mayor Tania Tapsell. He commended the city’s scenic beauty and cultural vibrancy, expressing confidence that stronger bilateral engagement would help deepen trade and tourism linkages.
At Te Puia, the national centre for Māori culture and arts, Goyal was accorded a traditional Māori welcome (Pōwhiri) in the presence of New Zealand’s Minister for Trade, Todd McClay. The ceremony, marked by customary chants and the hongi greeting, underscored the warmth and mutual respect between India and New Zealand. Goyal appreciated the Māori community’s cultural traditions, noting parallels between Māori values and India’s own civilisational ethos, particularly their shared respect for nature and community.
Later, Goyal and McClay co-chaired the India–New Zealand CEOs Roundtable, which saw participation from prominent business leaders of both nations. Addressing the gathering, Goyal outlined India’s dynamic economic transformation and called for deeper collaboration in sectors such as technology, agriculture, education, clean energy, tourism, and sustainability. He lauded the contribution of Indian-origin entrepreneurs in New Zealand and urged greater industry partnerships to drive mutual growth.
Expressing gratitude to McClay for his hospitality, Goyal reaffirmed India’s commitment to advancing its relationship with New Zealand, saying that both countries are working towards a partnership built on friendship, prosperity, and shared progress.