Cooperation on Solar Energy to be on the Agenda of India-New Zealand Bilateral Ties

Before India welcomes New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta on her bilateral visit to the country, the minister has said that she is hopeful that the visit will propel forward New Zealand’s progress on being a part of the International Solar Alliance.

It may be recalled that India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar had paid a visit to New Zealand last year. The bilateral discussions upon Jaishankar’s visit revolved around encouraging solar energy co-operation on a global level. A key point of discussion between the two countries was climate justice and climate action. New Zealand’s eagerness to join the International Solar Alliance also formed the core of the bilateral talks.

The International Solar Alliance was formed by India and France in 2015.

Of late, India and New Zealand have been working closely in the area of renewable energy among others.  India-NZ Joint Trade Committee meeting held in June 2022 looked at strengthening cooperation in renewable energy. Back in 2015, a delegation of new energy firms from New Zealand had marked its presence at the Renewable Energy India Expo.  New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) which is the country’s international business development agency, had said that it was looking to augment its generation capability with regards to renewable energy. It added that that India could play a major role in giving an impetus to its renewable energy sector with assistance in the areas of technologies and innovation.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s visit to India will be four days and she will meet Indian counterpart S Jaishankar while on it. The visit of New Zealand’s Foreign Minister to India is said to further cement the bilateral ties between the two countries in renewables space.