Queensland keen to collaborate with India for C'wealth Games

MELBOURNE: Australian state of Queensland is keen to enhance trade relations with India, especially in the areas such as technology and climate change research, and to collaborate for the preparations of Commonwealth Games in 2010.

State's premier Anna Bligh, who is on her final leg of 13-day tour in India, said that New Delhi was Queensland's third largest trading partner, and it was time to expand into other areas.

"My government continues to put significant financial resources into positioning Queensland as the 'Smart State', with export capacity in the areas of smart technology and skills," she said, according to 'The Age' report today.

"I will be encouraging further collaboration between India and Queensland in areas of mutual interest such as climate change research and preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi in 2010," Bligh, whose trip also included China and Japan, said.

She identified education, health, infrastructure, clean coal technology, biotechnology, marine and renewable fuels as other areas of potential cooperation.

Last financial year, India imported 15.4 million tonnes of Queensland coal, valued at 1.9 billion (Aus) dollars (Rs 70.4 billion), and 358 million (Aus) dollars (Rs 13.28 billion) worth of metal ores.

Queensland food products exported to India last year were valued at 54 million (Aus) dollars (Rs two billion).