Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a six-day tour of Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand from July 6, as part of India’s efforts to bolster ties in the Asia-Pacific region. The Ministry of External Affairs announced the visit on Friday, stating that Modi will first visit Indonesia on July 6, followed by Australia, and conclude his trip with a visit to New Zealand on July 11. The focus of the visit has shifted to the eastern maritime zones of the Indian Ocean and India’s Act East engagement, following Modi’s recent visits to Mauritius and Seychelles, as well as Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi’s visit to New Delhi this week.
Modi will hold bilateral talks with his counterparts in all three countries, including Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Diaspora engagements have also been planned in each country, given the significant presence of Indian-origin individuals and non-resident Indians. In Indonesia, there are an estimated 1.4 lakh people of Indian origin, while in Australia, the number is around 9.7 lakh, and in New Zealand, it is approximately 3 lakh.
During his visit to Australia, Modi will participate in the third India-Australia Annual Summit and meet with leaders from top Australian companies. He will also visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The discussions between Modi and Albanese will cover emerging areas of bilateral relations, including critical minerals, cybersecurity, supply chain resilience, and emerging technologies.
The first edition of the India-Australia Annual Summit was held in March 2023 in New Delhi during the State Visit of PM Albanese, and the second edition was held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024. In Indonesia, Modi will visit the historical Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and India will collaborate with Indonesia on the conservation of the temple. The visit to Indonesia is a continuation of the discussions on various bilateral tracks of cooperation that began during President Prabowo’s visit to India as the Guest of Honour for the 2025 Republic Day celebrations.
Modi’s visit to New Zealand will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years and comes in the wake of a free-trade agreement signed between the two countries in April. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the visit as ‘historic’ and stated that discussions between the leaders will include trade and investment, maritime security, education, technology, tourism, sport, and global issues.
