PM and party finally make their way to India
Doing business in India can be a bit of a slow grind - much like John Key’s attempts to get there.
The Prime Minister has arrived in Jakarta en route to New Delhi after an unintended overnight stop in Townsville, Australia, because a fault with the airforce plane meant a replacement had to be flown over.
There was rapturous applause from the delegation of about 80 people when the plane got up in the air at 11am (NZT).
The party has one last leg to go before reaching New Delhi.
Key’s last visit to India was in 2011, and, while he missed the Mumbai leg of the trip, which was cancelled because of the delays, the priority of the visit - a meeting with the Indian Prime Minister - will go ahead today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected on the basis he wanted to undertake substantial economic reform and Key says that’s a good platform for finally getting a free trade agreement over the line.
On Wednesday Key will receive a state welcome and take part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Gandhi Memorial, a meeting with Modi including a signing ceremony, a business meeting and a catch-up with President Pranab Mukherjee. - Fairfax NZ