Sujatha Singh
High Commissioner of India in Australia

We stand today at an exciting time in the evolution of the India-Australia bilateral relationship. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, during his recent Framework dialogue with Foreign Minister Stephen Smith at Canberra on June 23, said: “Relations between India and Australia are characterised by mutual understanding and cooperation based on several complementarities. India attaches great importance to her relations with Australia and remains committed to working with Australia to upgrade its bilateral relationship in all spheres. It is a matter of satisfaction that our bilateral relations have deepened and diversified in various areas in recent years.”

At a speech made at Perth on June 20, 2008, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith noted: “Here, on the edge of the Indian Ocean, Western Australians naturally look west, to India, and we are as conscious of its great economic prospects as we are of our own. It is also under-appreciated that Perth and Chennai are closer to each other than Sydney is to Seoul, Shanghai or Tokyo. India’s rising influence means it will be a key player in now shaping the world. As the world sees the potential of an Asian/Pacific century unfold, Australia sees India at the heart of this historic shift.”

Bilateral trade is at about A$10.7 billion, of which our imports are about A$9.3 billion, and has grown by over 32 per cent p.a. over the last four years, the fastest of Australia’s major markets, for goods as well as services. This makes India Australia’s 6th largest export destination and 10th largest trading partner. Indian investment in Australia is rapidly increasing, as is Australian investment in India. Indian industries have invested in copper, coal and gold mines and bid for exploration of natural gas in Australia. Indian IT companies have set up development centres in Sydney & Melbourne. In the area of S&T, India and Australia are co-operating in several areas.

With the number of Indian students in universities and vocational colleges in Australia at over 63,000, Australia is now the second most sought after destination for higher studies for our students. Australia’s own evolution as a multicultural and multiethnic society has contributed significantly to this process. Defence cooperation is going well; there has been an exchange of high-level visits and the beginning of joint exercises. Not many are aware that there is a bond in the form of shared history, when Australians and Indian soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder during the two World Wars.

India and Australia have historical and commercial ties dating back to the 18th century, when India played a central role in providing essential supplies to the young colony. The Consulate General of India in Sydney first opened as a Trade Office in 1941 and the first High Commissioner arrived in Canberra in 1946.

With the shift in the centre of gravity of the world economy towards Asia, the Indian Ocean has greater economic and strategic value than ever before. In the Indian Ocean and the Asia-Pacific region, our two countries are obvious partners.