Kapil Sibal arrives in New Zealand

HAMILTON - India’s Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal arrived in New Zealand Sunday on a three-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the education sector.

Sibal, who is championing a series of education reforms in the Indian education system, is expected to broaden collaboration with New Zealand in the education sector, including cooperation in research, technical and vocational education, teachers’ education and open and distance learning.

Wenceslaus Anthony, chairperson of the India-New Zealand Business Council, told IANS that Sibal’s visit was important for the New Zealand education service sector as a rapidly rising number of Indian students has been coming to New Zealand with the number increasing by 42 percent in the last year alone.

He said: “India’s vast human capital and sound educational system will be of interest to New Zealand as well. India and New Zealand governments, academicians and administrators can look at reforms and entrepreneurs can look for opportunities in the educational sector.”