'250 million lifted out of poverty under PM Modi': New Zealand PM Luxon hails India's economic transformation as ties enter strategic phase

India's remarkable economic transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi received strong endorsement from New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who said the country has lifted 250 million people out of poverty over the past decade while building one of the world's fastest-growing middle-class populations.

His remarks came during Modi's landmark visit to New Zealand—the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years—which also saw the two countries elevate bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and set an ambitious target of doubling two-way trade to NZ$7 billion (around ₹35,000 crore) by 2030.

Addressing a business and sports engagement event in Auckland, Luxon attributed India's socio-economic progress to sustained reforms and rapid development, describing the country's rise as one of the most significant global transformations in recent decades. The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to fast-track implementation of the recently concluded India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is expected to deepen cooperation across trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, innovation and skills.

Luxon highlights India's middle-class boom

Praising India's economic journey, Luxon said, "Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, he has lifted 250 million people out of poverty. There is now 440 million people in the middle class, about to be 750 million by the end of the decade, and it is an incredible transformation." He noted that India's expanding consumer base presents enormous opportunities for businesses and investors from around the world.

Drawing on his personal association with India, Luxon recalled first visiting the country in the mid-1990s while working for Unilever. "As someone who has been to India many times and has seen the move from low-income to middle-income to high-income, it is just so inspiring and so exciting to see the transformation that has taken place," he said, contrasting the cash-based economy he witnessed decades ago with today's rapidly modernising India.

Strategic Partnership to broaden engagement beyond FTA

Describing Modi's visit as a historic milestone, Luxon announced that the newly launched Strategic Partnership would provide a long-term framework to expand cooperation beyond trade. "We've made tremendous progress in a very short period of time on the trade agenda. But today's focus is about more than just the FTA. It's about where we go next in this relationship and how we broaden it," he said.

Announcing the new initiative, he added, "We are very proud to announce that we will be forming a Strategic Partnership, which will give the relationship more framework and breadth for us to continue to expand as we go forward from here."

Luxon also highlighted India's rapid infrastructure expansion, recalling Modi's reference to the construction of 147 airports, growing demand for 2,000 additional aircraft, and large-scale investments in higher education. Calling Modi's visit a defining moment in bilateral ties, he said the strengthening partnership would unlock new opportunities for businesses, investment and people-to-people exchanges while reinforcing New Zealand's engagement with one of the world's fastest-growing major economies.