Trade with India good for New South Wales: Premier Barry O'Farrell

MELBOURNE: Growing trade relations with India, which is a "long-term investment target" for New South Wales, are in the interest of the Australian state, its Premier Barry O'Farrell has said.

Speaking on the state's trade relations with India and China, he expressed his keenness to secure more investment from economies in the region.

"I'll continue to argue for state interests because I'm the state Premier," he was quoted as saying by the local media. "And clearly increased trade and investment between China and NSW, between NSW and India, or other countries, is good for jobs in NSW."

Last year, O'Farrell had led a senior delegation of industry and business leaders to India and met top Indian government officials, business representatives and investors in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

"India is a long term trade and investment target for NSW," he had said. "With one of the fastest growing economies in the world, the opportunities for NSW businesses in India are enormous."

O'Farrell's latest comments follow Opposition leader Tony Abbott's remarks at a Beijing business meet that while he welcomed Chinese investment, it was complicated due to the prevalence of state-owned enterprises.