The Australia India Business Council (AIBC) recently hosted their annual address and gala dinner. Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell, was the keynote speaker at the event.
Minister Farrell, Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Manpreet Vohra, Parliamentary Friends of India Chair, Dr Andrew Charlton, AIBC National Chair and Australia-India CEO Forum Director, Jodi McKay, and AIBC National Associate Chair, Irfan Malik, all spoke about the importance of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Speaking with The Australia Today, Minister Farrell told Pallavi Jain that the relationship between Australia and India had never been stronger and the links between PM Albanese and Indian PM Modi were very very strong. He also said that the AI-ECTA free trade agreement between Australia and India had already delivered double the amount of trade between Australia and India over just the last ten months.
Parliamentary Friends of India Chair and Member for Parramatta, Dr Charlton told The Australia Today that we need to recognise the qualifications, skills and education of the diaspora so that they can make as big a contribution to Australia and support them to be as successful as we can. He also said that that the Australia India relationship has moved from acquaintances to friendship but now we need to move to partnership.
AIBC National Chair Jodi McKay once again emphasised on the need to further energise the economic-investment ecocystem between the two countries.
The event also saw the launch of the first Indigenous business roadmap for the Australia India relationship led by Indu Balachandran.
Ms McKay said that the ‘First Nations Roadmap’ is our commitment to being part of the education journey, as we recognise and celebrate Australia’s First Nations’ peoples, their history, and their place in trade and economy.
