Australia and India can collaborate across sectors like ship-building

NEW DELHI: Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman who led a trade mission to India earlier this month is hopeful that the Australian state and India can collaborate across sectors including ship-building, renewable energy, hospitality and education sectors.

Hodgman, who became first Tasmanian premier to visit India met policy makers and potential investors here.

Talking to ET Hodgman said that Tasmania has a strong ship building industry to meet India's requirements besides providing renewable energy solutions. The ship building industry in Tasmania specializes in both military as well as civil vessels.

"This is very reminiscent of what it was like, I expect, back in the 1980s when we first started to establish ties with China. I am very confident that in future years we'll look back at this inaugural trade mission to India as pivotal to increasing trade," noted Hodgman.

Hodgman had used the opportunity to promote the state's pitch for Indian business Sutherland to base a call centre in Tasmania and invited the business services company to visit the state soon.

Cricket was also on the agenda with former Australian captain Ricky Ponting joining the Premier in India. Ponting and former Aussie opener David Boon are natives of Tasmania.