By IANS,
Wellington : The New Zealand government Thursday predicted a boost for the country’s aviation sector following the signing of a pact to strengthen aviation collaboration and trade with India.
The India-New Zealand Aviation Arrangement was signed in New Delhi during a visit by a delegation led by New Zealand Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce, reported Xinhua.
“India is predicted to jump from the ninth largest civil aviation market in the world to the third by 2020. Domestic traffic in India is expected to grow from 46 million to 90 million passengers per year, with international traffic soaring from 34 million to 90 million in the same period,” Joyce said in a statement from his office.
“This rapidly growing market provides massive opportunities for New Zealand companies involved in aviation and the signing of the aviation agreement with India will strengthen the business relationship between our two countries.”
The arrangement would encourage greater training and technical cooperation in aviation, including in the design and building of airports in India and flight training for Indian students in New Zealand.
Joyce was accompanied on his visit by nine New Zealand aviation companies.
He is also leading a delegation to lift New Zealand’s profile as a destination for international students and to support tertiary institutions and companies seeking to grow their business in the Indian market.