Are you listening, David Warner? Aussie business delegation says Hindi fastest growing language Down Under

“Speak English,” Australian batsman David Warner told India’s Rohit Sharma during a heated exchange at the MCG the other day. But given the way the diplomatic winds are blowing, maybe Warner should learn a bit of Hindi.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia last November, the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) was in India last week as part of Australia Business Week. The commission, the largest ever from Australia to India, comprised 450 companies and CEOs. It was led by Andrew Robb, Australia’s trade and investment minister.

At the networking dinner hosted by the Commission at the Sofitel, Mumbai, Grame Barty, general manager, International Operations Growth and Emerging Markets, Austrade, told ET Panache that Hindi was the fastest growing language Down Under. The Indian community, he said, will soon become the largest community of non-natives in Australia.

Whether the India trip was fruitful for the Australian companies is hard to say, but Barty said the decision to test waters in India was no “accident”. The India visit was held during the second week of summer holidays in Australia, traditionally time for the family. But the delegation members made a big sacrifice and flew to India instead.

The Commission and some delegates also participated in Vibrant Gujarat, where they met Adani Group chairman and founder Gautam Adani. Barty said Adani has made a “significant investment” in Australia. But he did not reveal more, only saying that the meeting was positive.