With a host of opportunities, investments, a progressive environment, South Australia is buoyant about its growing relationship  with India, maintains Brian Hayes

Brian Hayes QC
National Chairman, AIBC &
SA’s Special Envoy to India

India is playing a crucial role in the overall economic development of South Australia, with substantial growth in skilled migrants, students studying in educational institutions, tourism, bilateral trade and inward investment. 

The South Australian Premier, Hon Mike Rann, has personally visited India five times in four years to promote SA's expanding relationship with the country. SA is promoting the benefits of a partnership between India and SA in education, engineering, mining, food and wine and ICT.

The basis of the state's growth is expansion from the traditional agricultural and manufacturing base to include defence, mining and knowledge-based industries. The state's drivers of transformation are becoming more obvious through:

• The defence sector successes (AWD contract, subs maintenance contract, Army battalion relocation)
• The mining sector  - with an almost nine-fold increase in mining exploration in five years, SA now has the third-largest mining exploration expenditure in Australia, almost on par with Queensland.
• Knowledge-based industries, including education, bioscience and information and communications technology.

There has never been a better time for investment in SA, where the overall mood is confident and optimistic. Major projects with a value of $45 billion are creating many opportunities in varied sectors for businesses and skilled individuals.

The state has a brilliant blend of business and lifestyle opportunities, and welcomes investors, migrants, students and tourists from India to participate in its future.

Independent studies have found Adelaide to be among the most liveable cities in the world, and one of the least expensive in which to live:

• The 2006 study by KPMG and MMK Consulting concluded Adelaide is one of the three most cost-competitive cities in the world.
• Mercer found Adelaide to be one of the world's least-expensive cities in which to live - Adelaide ranked the 96th most expensive, with Sydney 21st and Melbourne 60th.

Adelaide offers a progressive industrial environment; a highly skilled workforce; solid education and health systems.

SA has many and expanding opportunities for investors in diverse industry sectors, for migrants, for students and for tourists. Adelaide offers a progressive industrial environment; a highly skilled, productive and flexible workforce; and world-class education and health systems. SA has many opportunities for investors in diverse industry sectors, for migrants, students and tourists.