Indian President Droupadi Murmu has called for New Zealand to collaborate with India on enhancing education ties. Speaking at the New Zealand International Education Conference in Wellington on Thursday, during her three-day state visit, Murmu highlighted the transformative power of education.

“I have seen and experienced the transformative power of education firsthand,” she said. “I was the first woman in my village to get a college education. It was only through education that I was able to serve my country in various capacities.

“In India, ever since ancient times, knowledge has been the highest purpose of life – the eternal pursuit. This has continued even in the 21st century.”