CIAL managing director V.J. Kurien presenting a memento to New Zealand prime minister John Key and his wife Bronagh Key during their visit to Nedumbassery International Airport on Thursday. Photo: Robert VinodKochi: New Zealand prime minister John Key on Thursday made a brief stopover at the Cochin International Airport near here and inspected various facilities, including hi-tech security systems installed by a company from his country.
Key and a delegation accompanying him inspected the baggage handling system and integrated online Explosive Detection System installed at the new international terminal by New Zealand company Glidepath. The company had secured a contract, close to $22 million.
Key, who walked around the new international terminal, hailed the construction of the new airport and global standard technology being installed there to facilitate the comfortable journey.
Addressing the mediapersons, Key, on a four-day visit to India ended on Thursday, recalled his meeting with prime minister Narendra Modi and highlighted the 'growing' ties between India and New Zealand.
He said companies in New Zeland offered sophisticated engineering solutions. He also spoke about the pilot training institute and other academic institutions in his country.
Earlier, the 81-member New Zealand delegation headed by Key was given a warm welcome at the airport by top Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) officials including additional chief secretary and airport managing director, V.J. Kurien and airport director A.C.K. Nair, executive director A.M. Basheer and Ernakulam district collector Y Safarulla.
Key later left for Indonesia from here.
(With agency inputs)
