New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India's economic growth during a bilateral meeting in Auckland.
The exchange signals a deepening strategic partnership between the two nations, focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, education, innovation, and defence.
Luxon highlighted the scale of India's development, saying that about 250 million people [1] have been lifted out of poverty under Modi's leadership. He described the shift as an "incredible transformation for India" [1].
To illustrate the magnitude of this change, Luxon recalled his experiences from a previous visit to the country. He said he remembers seeing Indians being paid in coins in the 1990s, contrasting that memory with the country's current status as a global economic force [2].
Other Indian officials have echoed these figures. Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, said that over 250 million individuals [4] have been lifted out of poverty under Modi's leadership. Some reports specifically categorize this progress as a reduction in multidimensional poverty [3].
The meeting in Auckland served as a platform to underscore India's progress and to solidify ties between the two governments. Both leaders emphasized the need for deeper cooperation across multiple sectors to ensure mutual growth.
“"He has lifted 250 million people out of poverty – an incredible transformation for India."”
The public endorsement of India's poverty alleviation efforts by a Western leader reflects India's growing geopolitical influence and its transition into a primary global economic hub. By linking historical observations of the 1990s to current growth, New Zealand is signaling a strategic pivot toward stronger Indo-Pacific ties, prioritizing economic and security cooperation over traditional trade patterns.
