India’s Federal Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, has concluded a five-day official tour of New Zealand and Fiji, engaging in a series of diplomatic, business, and community meetings that reflect India’s increasing presence in the Pacific.
In Auckland, Minister Margherita met New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. The discussions were wide-ranging, with a particular emphasis on trade, technology, and education. At the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) Summit 2025, he addressed the business community on how India and New Zealand could collaborate more effectively, particularly in areas like digital finance. He highlighted India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system as a potential model for future integration with New Zealand’s own payments ecosystem.
His bilateral meeting with Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay further explored expanding trade partnerships between the two countries, especially in light of growing interest from both governments in diversifying economic ties in the Indo-Pacific. Margherita reiterated India’s openness to stronger engagement in agri-business and clean technology, two areas of common interest.
Beyond policy, he took time to engage with the Indian diaspora in Auckland—thanking them for serving as a steady link between the two countries. Referring to the diaspora as a “living bridge,” he acknowledged the role of migrant communities in shaping bilateral ties beyond formal diplomacy.
In Fiji, his schedule was no less demanding. He was the Guest of Honour at the 146th Girmit Day commemorations in Labasa, marking the arrival of the first Indian indentured labourers to Fiji in 1879. The event, held at Subrail Park, attracted a large gathering of Indo-Fijians and local leaders. Margherita described the occasion as an emotional reminder of the historical link between the two countries, grounded in shared struggle and resilience.
While in Nadi, he visited the Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple—the largest Hindu temple in the South Pacific. His visit was not merely ceremonial; it was coupled with a close look at the cultural programmes supported by India. He praised the local Tamil language initiatives, backed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Fijian government and local institutions. The project is one of many examples of India’s outreach in maintaining linguistic and cultural roots among the diaspora.
Margherita also held bilateral talks with Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Biman Prasad. The two discussed India-Fiji cooperation across various sectors including education, health, agriculture, and climate resilience. With Fiji being a key regional player in the Pacific Islands Forum, the meeting carried broader geopolitical weight. Both sides expressed an interest in increasing scholarships, vocational exchanges, and renewable energy collaboration.
Though this was Margherita’s first official visit to Fiji and New Zealand in his current ministerial role, it builds on a broader diplomatic arc. Earlier this year, he visited Latin American and Caribbean nations including Uruguay, the Bahamas, Barbados, and Nicaragua. Each of these trips has added a layer to India’s attempt at reinvigorating its engagement with countries outside its traditional zones of influence.
Margherita’s Pacific tour combined the elements of diplomacy, economic outreach, and cultural affirmation. From boardroom discussions in Auckland to public commemorations in Labasa, the minister’s engagements suggest a coordinated effort to deepen India’s ties across the Indo-Pacific—one handshake, one conversation, and one celebration at a time.
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