High Commissioner's remarks at the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce session on Western Australia Turning to India: Investing in its future
(check against delivery) Thursday, 7 January 2021
Vanakam, Vandanam, Namaskara, Namaste,
It is a great pleasure to be able to address this virtual summit ‘Western Australia Turning to India: Investing in its future,’ hosted by the Indo-Australia Chamber of Commerce.
I acknowledge Shri Goutham Reddy, Honourable Minister for Industries, Commerce and IT, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Sir, I understand your honeymoon a visit to Australia—an auspicious and inspired decision!
I also acknowledge Ms Jessica Shaw, MLA, Chair, of the WA Parliament’s Economics and Industry Standing Committee, whose recent report adds further depth to the Australia-India relationship.
I thank Sanjeev Bajaj, President IACC, and Petula Thomas, its Director, for their work in making today possible and their ongoing efforts to grow trade and investment.
The Australia-India relationship continues to reach new heights.
Our Prime Ministers agreed to elevate our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at their Virtual Summit on 4 June. This cemented India's position as a front rank partner for Australia.
This reflects the irreversible forces bringing India and Australia together, what I term the 4 ‘D’s: Defence, Democracy, Diaspora and Dosti.
The CSP includes agreements on defence cooperation, economic cooperation, and cybersecurity and critical minerals
and technology. This breadth of cooperation makes our partnership more resilient and enduring.
Two-way trade reached $30.3 billion in 2018-19.
While we can’t deny both our economies lost ground in 2020, over the longer-term, the fundamentals of our economic relationship remain strong. Our economies are complementary, and that makes us good commercial partners.
In the post-pandemic phase, Australia’s goods and services can support India’s growth and recovery, and vice versa.
Andhra Pradesh is an important partner in taking the Australia-India economic relationship forward. It is recognised as a priority state for engagement in Australia’s India Economic Strategy.
Andhra Pradesh offers expanded opportunities in resources and energy, especially as proposed LNG terminals in Kakinada and Krishnapatnam approach completion.
It also offers opportunities in education and research. To give an example, Australian researchers from the University of Wollongong have worked with the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone in Vizag towards 3D bio-printing of human ears.
As the home of Eastern Naval Command, Andhra Pradesh is also an important partner in our defence relationship.
In November, we saw the return of Australia to Exercise Malabar. This exercise saw Australia, India, Japan and the United States conduct a series of high-end maritime activities, including night operations, air defence and anti-submarine exercises, and live gunnery exercises.
A highlight was the refuelling between Indian ships INS Shakti and Deepak and Australian HMAS Ballarat during both the Bay
of Bengal and Arabian Sea phases of the Exercise, highlighting the importance of our Mutual Logistics Support Agreement.
Five Australian ships also visited Vizag as part of AUSINDEX 2019, to that time our largest and most complex ever naval exercise with India.
Minister Reddy, Australia has consistently engaged with Andhra Pradesh Governments and we are keen to work with your Government to take our relationship forward.
Australia was the first country to lead a foreign trade delegation to your Government, in July 2019: featuring 12 Australian businesses, and representatives from our Consulate-General in Chennai, Austrade, state governments and the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce.
I look forward to visiting Andhra Pradesh myself early this year.
Importantly Andhra Pradesh also has a sister state relationship with Western Australia.
I am very pleased that we have Jessica/Ms Shaw here with us today to introduce the WA Parliament’s new report ‘Turning to India: Investing in Our Future.’
Reports like this, and the CII’s Australia Economic Strategy, released in December, are a validation of the promise both countries recognise in our economic relationship - and a reflection of the spirit of partnership which underpins Australia’s relationship with India.
As we enter a new year and farewell a year of major challenges - where citizens, companies and countries appreciated, more than ever, the value of trusted and reliable friends - I remain incredibly optimistic about the years ahead for our two nations.
Thank you.