President Pranab Mukherjee, who becomes the first President to travel to New Zealand, arrived in Aukland this morning and was received by officials.<br/><br/>Mr Mukherjee has pitched for closer ties with New Zealand and said the region has gained even greater salience in New Delhi's strategic thinking and economic engagement. President called Pacific region as a natural extension of India's immediate neighbourhood of South East Asia. <br/><br/>Talking about growth prospect of India, he said, India has displaced China as the world's largest destination for attracting Foreign Direct Investment. <br/><br/>However, the President listed elimination of poverty remains among the challenges being faced by India. He said employment generation is critical to achieve lasting reduction in poverty.