India, New Zealand signed Air Services Agreement

On 1 May 2016 India and New Zealand signed an Air Services Agreement which will introduce direct flights between the two countries.
•    The agreement was signed in the presence of the President Pranab Mukherjee and the New Zealand Prime Minister John Key. 
•    Mukherjee was on an official tour to Papua New Guinea (April 28-29, 2016) and New Zealand (April 30 to May 2, 2016).
•    The agreement will lead to easier connectivity that has halted both business travel and people-to-people contact in the past.
•    Business, Education and Tourism sector has boomed between India and New Zealand in recent years. 
•    There are nearly 175000 Indians in New Zealand of which about 15000 are Indian students. 
•   The two-way trade has doubled between the two countries in the last few years.
•   The two-way tourist traffic has also witnessed rise