New Zealand PM on India trip

Having arrived in India on Sunday, he visited Agra on Monday. On Tuesday morning, there will be a ceremonial reception for Key by the his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

External Affairs Minister is also expected to call on Key, after which the state guest will visit President Pratibha Patil.

On Tuesday, Key and his delegation, which includes his spouse, the Trade Minister and a large business delegation, will attend a luncheon hosted the three apex business chambers - CII, FICCI and ASSOCHAM - in his honour.

In the evening, he would meet the Prime Minister of India and hold delegation-level talks.

There will be signing of some agreements and the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, along with his spouse Gursharan Kaur, will host a banquet in the honour of the visiting dignitary and members of his delegation, a government spokesperson said.

On Wednesday, Key is expected to land in Mumbai where he would call on the Governor of Maharashtra who would also host a dinner for him.

Also there will be a number of engagements in Mumbai which include the visit to the Film City, and a business luncheon. He leaves Mumbai on Thursday morning, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said.

New Zealand has designated or sees India as a core trade, economic and political partner by 2015 and is collaborating actively with India to attain that objective, he said.

"We not only reciprocate that vision but would also like to benefit from New Zealand's world-class expertise in sectors like food processing, nano-engineering, robotics, dairy farming, earthquake resistant engineering, post-harvest technologies and logistic management in the agricultural sector," he said.

The bilateral trade between India and New Zealand has been growing steadily which was NZ $ 1.265 billion in 2010.

"It does not do justice to our potential. However, as I have already pointed out, the economic and commercial dimension of the bilateral relationship is now poised for a significant growth," the MEA spokesperson said.