New Zealand PM visits Mumbai naval dockyard

New Zealand is all set to appoint a defence advisor based out of Wellington with the sole aim of collaborating with the Indian armed forces to increase the strategic ties between India and New Zealand. This announcement was made by John Key, the prime minister of New Zealand, who is currently on a visit to India.

Prime Minister Key told a media delegation in Mumbai on Wednesday, "New Zealand is looking to strengthen maritime co-operation with India by significantly increasing the number of naval exercises between the two countries."

A high-level delegation from New Zealand also visited the indigenously built fast attack INS Cankarso. The ship is fitted with Hamilton water jet propulsion units made in NZ.

INS Cankarso has played a significant role in the apprehension of Somali pirates and rescue of captured crew belonging to Thailand and Myanmar.

On a visit to the Naval Dockyard at Mazgaon in south Mumbai, Prime Minister Key told media-persons that piracy was one of the main concerns of New Zealand which it shares with India and is committed to tackling piracy in close collaboration with India.

During his visit, Prime Minister Key interacted with Vice Admiral DK Joshi, the flag officer commanding in chief, western naval command.

India and New Zealand have also agreed to co-fund a number of scholarship programmes for Indian students with the aim to create more educational opportunities in various categories of the education sector in the New Zealand.

Co-production agreements have also been signed between the two countries to encourage more Bollywood productions to shoot in New Zealand.

Already five rounds between the delegates of both the countries have taken place to discuss various modalities of the free trade agreement between the two countries. New Zealand Prime Minister feels that there would be another three-four more rounds before an agreement is finalised in 2012.

Prime Minister Key termed his India visit as "highly successful."

Image: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key with Vice Admiral DK Joshi, the flag officer commanding in chief, western naval command in Mumbai on Wednesday