Venu Menon
Wellington, December 11,2023
In a fresh initiative to spotlight India’s cultural diversity, the High Commission of India in Wellington is focused on unveiling the potential of the country’s states and Union Territories.
India has 29 states and eight Union Territories.
To launch this initiative, the Indian High Commission hosted an event at its premises on Pipitea St in Wellington last week that focused on three Indian states: Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala.
“This is the opening event of a planned series covering all the states of India,” Ishant Ghulyani, MC, explained.
Members of the Indian diaspora and leaders of community organisations, as well as local dignitaries, gathered at the High Commission to witness presentations and cultural performances highlighting the business, tourism and cultural sectors of the three states.
Indian High Commissioner Neeta Bhushan, in her welcome address, noted the surge of interest in New Zealand on her recent visit to India.
That sentiment was reciprocated by New Zealanders.
“I have been [in New Zealand] for the past year or so, and I have seen so much of interest and affection for India as well.”
High Commissioner Bhushan said she saw a transformed India – in terms of digitalisation, nutrition and women empowerment.
“Everywhere [in India], the payments were cashless. [In terms of nutrition] millet recipes were incorporated [on the menu] of every [food outlet] I went to. I was also amazed to see the progress with the Swachh Bharat programme. I saw lots of women in uniform, whether they joined the army, navy or air force. Several of the [commercial] flights I took had ladies as the captains.”
High Commissioner Bhushan spoke of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on the states “in terms of promoting trade, tourism, business, investments and people-to-people ties.”
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had established a special cell “which looks at coordination between the States and the Centre,” as well as promoting those states through the efforts of Indian missions around the world.
This provided the context for promoting the first tranche of three states. Her first-hand experience of Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala came in for special mention, along with the iconic temples of Varanasi in UP and the natural landscapes of Assam.
Simon Arcus, Chief Executive, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, noted the importance of developing a relationship with India, and “not seeing it as a transactional or a dollar-based relationship.” He identified agro-tech, education, renewable energy, technology transfer, and tourism as key areas of cooperation between India and New Zealand.
Catherine Beard, Director of Advocacy, Business NZ, recalled being “blown away by the size and scale” when she visited India recently as part of a 50-strong business delegation. She said India was a competitive market and that a New Zealand business would need “ a very good niche, a very good relationship” to do business in India.
India was on “the new government’s radar,” which “bodes well for the future,” she added.
Up next, Wellington City Councillor Diane Calvert recalled her visit to Kerala and seeing the “solar panels that powered Kochi International airport.” From the perspective of a councillor, she said it was time to “start thinking about Sister City relationships [with India].”
Mosquitoes and spices left a particular impression on her, as did the machinery trialled for “picking the tea” in high-altitude plantations. She also recalled visiting a centre in Agra [in UP] that manufactured “hush puppies.”
Tourism New Zealand CEO Rene de Monchy informed the audience that the 20th anniversary of Tourism NZ’s office in India was celebrated earlier this year. He traced the campaigns launched over 20 years, including with “influencers in cricketing and Bollywood spheres.”
Pre-Covid tourist arrivals to New Zealand from India had doubled between 2015 and 2019, and stood at 66,000 visitors over that period. Since August this year, that number rose to 77,000 visitors.
Post-Covid, India has been the “fastest recovered market,” Monchy noted, adding: “Our research shows there are 17 million Indians who are actively considering New Zealand as their next holiday destination.”
The presentations, delivered by Nasser Ahmed for Assam, Gurdeep Talwar for UP and Meera Murlidharan for Kerala, respectively, coupled with the dance recitals, brought to life the colours, flavours, sights and sounds of each of the states, taking the audience on a memorable journey of nostalgia and discovery.
Venu Menon is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Wellington
