New Delhi, January 20: The Government of India on Monday announced the appointment of Muanpuii Saiawi (IFS: 2005) as the next High Commissioner of India to New Zealand. Currently serving as a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Saiawi is expected to take up her new assignment shortly.
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Hailing from Mizoram, Saiawi will succeed Neeta Bhushan, who has been India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand since 2022. Bhushan, an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1994 batch, has had a distinguished diplomatic career with postings in Japan, Bangladesh, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
As High Commissioner, Saiawi will serve as India’s senior diplomatic representative in a fellow Commonwealth nation, overseeing bilateral relations, promoting trade and cultural ties, providing consular services, and acting as the principal link between the governments of India and New Zealand.
Her appointment comes at a time when India and New Zealand are working to further strengthen bilateral ties, including progress towards closer economic engagement following the conclusion of Free Trade Agreement talks.
According to reports, Saiawi has held a wide range of overseas postings, including as First Secretary (Political) at the Indian Embassy in the South Korea, First Secretary (Information, Education and Culture) in Japan, and Counsellor (Press, Information, Culture and Tourism) in Israel. She has also handled key responsibilities in cyber diplomacy and new and emerging strategic technologies within the MEA.
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Saiawi has been recognised for her professional excellence, having received the Ambassador Bimal Sanyal Memorial Gold Medal for best officer trainee, a Silver Medal for best dissertation, and was named best probationer of the 2005 batch of Indian Foreign Service officers.
India and New Zealand share warm and friendly relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1952, with cooperation spanning trade, education, tourism and sports. The exact date of Saiawi’s assumption of charge in Wellington is yet to be announced.
