Victoria govt to enhance relations with India

MELBOURNE: Victorian government today launched a new strategy to engage and enhance relations with India in a bid to further the coalition government's plan to increase trade and cultural links with the country.


The strategy is based on four strategic priorities, to be implemented over five years, to advance the state's relationship with India: building strategic relationships, enhancing understanding between Victoria and India, facilitating trade, and attracting investment, according to an official statement.

Launching Victorian government's second Super Trade Mission to India in Mumbai, Victoria Tourism Minister and Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, Louise Asher said India is Victoria's fastest growing export market.

"To be a true partner we must have a deeper understanding of the aims of the Government of India and Indian state governments," Asher said.

Victoria is a state in the south-east of Australia. "We need to understand how Victoria can assist India through our expertise, to meet its economic development goals," she said.

"India's rapid rate of economic growth and development is driving demand for Victorian goods and services across a range of sectors, including food and beverage, education, infrastructure, and sustainable urban design," Asher said.

The Minister is leading the Victorian government's current Super Trade Mission to India that includes 180 representatives from 140 Victorian organisations and is visiting key centres including Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune and Kolkata.

The Trade Mission is showcasing nine strategically important sectors of the Victorian economy including automotive, aviation and aerospace, biotechnology, clean technology, education, food and beverage, ICT, sustainable urban design, and tourism.

Asher said 80 per cent of the organisations represented on the mission are Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs), for which Victoria is world renowned. Almost half of these SMEs are new to the Indian market and nearly 70 per cent of all organisations involved are coming on their first Super Trade Mission to India.

"India is a market with huge opportunities for Victorian businesses and educational institutions," Asher said.

"This mission will build on the outstanding results of the Super Trade Mission to India in February 2012 that is anticipated to generate hundreds of new jobs and export growth of more than USD 355 million over two years," Asher said.

Asher said recent successful Super Trade Missions to India, China and The Middle East are key components of the Victorian coalition government's USD 50 million international engagement strategy.

"Victoria is setting a new benchmark through unprecedented expansion of our international engagement with key trading partners, generating new jobs and significant investment for our state," Asher said.