Open the door to

HOMELINK
Increasing potential for better
Indo-Kiwi relations
Venkat Raman
Distance is no more
a constraint in
developing bilateral
relations and there
is immense potential for Indo-
Kiwi relations to grow, India’s
High Commissioner to New
Zealand Ravi Thapar has said.
Speaking at the 66th Republic
Day Celebrations, which he
hosted at Bharat Bhavan of the
Wellington Indian Association
in the Capital on January 26,
he said that current trends of
economic interdependence and
electronic connectivity influence
relations between the two
countries.
“Today, experts and centres of
excellence in both democracies
can go digital and jointly
evolve positions on various
critical issues confronting the
world. The presence of a large
overseas Indian community also
facilitates such linkages,” he
said.
Ministerial visits
Mr Thapar said that while
the visit of New Zealand
Prime Minister John Key to
India (June 26 to 30, 2011) set
the trend for higher level of
engagement, exchange visits
by other ministers, lawmakers
and officials have added to the
momentum of on-going ties.
Editor’s Note: The late Indira
Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi
were the only Indian Prime
Ministers to visit New Zealand
(1968 and 1986). Former
Prime Ministers of this country
including Norman Kirk, Robert
Ravi Thapar with his wife Sharmila
and Mayor Celia Wade Brown
Muldoon, David Lange and
Helen Clark have visited India
and cemented relationships.
Citing the election of
three former Indian citizens
to Parliament in the general
election held on September 20,
2014 as significant, Mr Thapar
said the Indian Diaspora has
also been an effective link in
promoting relations.
Bilateral Trade
Mr Thapar said that while
bilateral trade between the two
countries stood at $1.1 billion
last year, there were significant
opportunities for enhancing such
engagement.
“The investment flows need
not only be geared towards
India. Rather, as has just
been established through the
allocation of a large offshore
block off the Taranaki coast to
ONGC Videsh Ltd (a subsidiary
of US$ 58 billion parent
company Oil & Natural Gas
Commission of India), Indian
companies and corporate majors
could also invest in tangible
projects in New Zealand,” he
said.
Mature Country
Mr Thapar said that since
becoming a Republic on January
26, 1950, India has matured
to become US$2.1 trillion
economy, which in terms of
Purchasing Power Parity,makes
Ratna Venkat presenting a fusion dance with vocalist-guitarist Jeffery Nathan
it the third largest economy in
the world.
Dance performances by
Ratna Venkat with live music
by Jeffery Nathan and Joseph
Alexander (from Auckland)
were a highlight of the event
Indian Newslink February 1, 2015
5
Open the door to
Professional quality aluminium joinery
WORK VISA
VISITORS VISA
STUDENT VISA
RESIDENCE VISA
Witnessing
& Certification
of Documents
SECTION 61 REQUEST
COMPLAINT TO OMBUDSMAN OFFICE
SPECIAL DIRECTION TO MINISTER OF IMMIGRATION
APPEAL TO IMMIGRATION AND PROTECTION TRIBUNAL
NEW HOME JOINERY ◙ ADDITIONS ◙ RENOVATIONS
CONSERVATORIES ◙ BALUSTRADE ◙ CUSTOM DESIGNS ◙ SHOP FRONTS
NEW HOME JOINERY ◙ ADDITIONS ◙ RENOVATIONS
CONSERVATORIES ◙ BALUSTRADE ◙ CUSTOM DESIGNS ◙ SHOP FRONTS
Phone: (09) 277 6341 | Mobile: 0274 806 017
EMAIL: immigrationlaw@xtra.co.nz
33A Charles Street, Papatoetoe, Auckland
PO Box 23603, Hunters Corner, Papatoetoe, Auckland