India will soon build a general consulate in Auckland, which is home to a high population of non-resident Indians in New Zealand.
The Union Cabinet accepted the request to open a Consulate General of India in Auckland on Wednesday, according to an official statement.
The consulate is expected to open and be fully operating within a year.
The Indian consulate in Auckland is now led by an honorary consul. The establishment of a consulate general would prepare the way for the appointment of a consul general, a position typically held by an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.
Opening the Consulate General of India in Auckland would help increase the country’s diplomatic footprint and strengthen its representation in view of its increasing global engagement, the statement said.
“This will also help promote India’s strategic and commercial interests and better serve the welfare of the Indian community in Auckland,” it added.
Officials said nearly 2.5 lakh people of Indian origin reside in New Zealand, including 1.7 lakh in Auckland. The India-New Zealand Business Council is also located in Auckland.
The Indian High Commission in New Zealand is in Wellington.
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