India, New Zealand seal strategic partnership, target NZ$7 billion trade by 2030

India and New Zealand on Saturday elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership, set a target of doubling annual bilateral trade to 7 billion New Zealand dollars, or about Rs 35,000 crore, by 2030, and agreed to step up maritime security cooperation. After talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, the two sides also said they would work for a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The talks produced 18 concrete outcomes, including 10 agreements, with a four-year roadmap to widen ties across sectors. The two countries also focused on early implementation of the recently…