Jaishankar Discusses With New Zealand PM About Difficulties Faced By Indian Students

Wellington: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said that he has urged New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta to take a sympathetic view on the difficulties faced by Indian students, who were impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jaishankar, who is here on his first visit to New Zealand as the External Affairs Minister, said this while interacting with the Indian community during the inauguration of the new Indian High Commission Chancery in Wellington. In respect of Indian students here, he said that they have had tough times during COVID.

“None of us had an easy time during COVID. But students perhaps took a bigger hit than most of us. So, I urged the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister to take a sympathetic view and understanding of students who enter and I was glad to be assured that they would approach the issue sympathetically,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar said he hopes to see some progress on this issue. India is the second largest source of international students in New Zealand pursuing higher education in various disciplines such as information technology, hospitality, science, engineering and architecture.