Venkat Raman
Auckland, July 30, 2024
India’s President Draupadi Murmu will pay an official visit to New Zealand next week, an Indian government notification has confirmed.
It is understood that she will be in New Zealand from August 7 to August 9, 2024 at the invitation of New Zealand Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro.
Although not involved in the running of the government, as the Constitutional Head and as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Indian President wields substantial powers. Ms Murmu appoints and sacks Governors to various States and Union Territories swears in Ministers and other constitutional heads (on the recommendations of the Prime Minister and the Federal Cabinet) and meets visiting Heads of State, Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers (depending on the country and the occasion).
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The previous visit by an Indian President was by the late Pranab Mukherjee from April 30, 2016, to May 2, 2016 evinced huge interest among the members of the Indian community.
We await official confirmation of the events planned for Ms Murmu from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Indian High Commissioner Neeta Bhushan.
Ms Murmu’s visit to New Zealand comes at a time when the government in Wellington is keen to intensify its engagement with New Delhi. Foreign Minister Winston Peters has visited Delhi and set the stage for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to undertake his first, promised visit to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi (within one year of assuming office) possibly in October 2024. Trade Minister Todd McClay has visited Delhi twice and met Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and conveyed his government’s readiness to improve bilateral trade.
The Indian economy is robust accounting for the largest consumer base in the world and hence a favoured destination for countries seeking bilateral trade.
Whether New Zealand will be successful in its efforts depends more on how Mr Luxon articulates his government’s policies without offending sensitivities in New Delhi.
The following is a report that appeared in the India News Network:
President Droupadi Murmu will undertake a State Visit to Fiji, New Zealand and Timor-Leste from August 5-10, 2024.
This will be the first-ever visit by a Head of State from India to Fiji and Timor Leste, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in its announcement on Monday (July 29, 2024).
The visit to Fiji on August 5-6, 2024 comes at the invitation of President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere. While in Fiji, President Murmu will be holding bilateral meetings with President Katonivere and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. She is also scheduled to address the Fijian Parliament and interact with the Indian diaspora in Fiji.
The visit reflects India’s continued commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Fiji, the MEA noted.
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On the second leg of her visit, President Murmu will visit New Zealand on August 7-9, 2024 at the invitation of Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro. During the State Visit, President Murmu will hold a bilateral meeting with Governor General Kiro and meet Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
President Murmu will also address an Education conference and interact with the Indian community and friends of India. The visit will provide further impetus to India-New Zealand bilateral relations, the MEA said.
President Murmu will visit Timor-Leste on 10 August 10, 2024 at the invitation of President José Ramos-Horta.
During the visit, President Murmu will hold a bilateral meeting with President Horta.
Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Kay Rala “Xanana” Gusmão, will call on President Murmu. In addition, President Murmu will interact with members of the Indian community. This will be the first-ever Head of State visit from India to Timor-Leste.
“The State Visit by President Murmu to Fiji, New Zealand and Timor-Leste underscore the importance India attaches to our bilateral relations with these countries and reflects our strong focus on the Act East Policy which was announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ten years ago at the 9th East Asia Summit in 2014,” the MEA stated.
President Murmu to visit NZ-India News Network.
