ochi: The Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr Peter Varghese, has stressed on the need to extend Indo-Australian relations in key areas of infrastructure development and economic relations.
Speaking at an interactive session organised here by the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry in association with the Australian Consulate General, Chennai, Mr Varghese said that India would become a more significant player in the region and Australia looks to India as one among the few fastest growing countries in the world.
He pointed out that bilateral trade between India and Australia will cross $40 billion within the next five years. “India is already our third largest export market and it will not be long before India becomes second largest,” he added.
“We are beginning to see the convergence of these two countries. India's strategic focus is altering the age old concept of ‘Asia-Pacific'. India and Australia can do much more to build multilateral relations particularly with G-20,” he added.
India is likely to be the largest source of skilled migrants and is in the top three for the last couple of years. India ranks second in temporary skilled migrants programme currently running in Australia and is also the second largest source of international students for Australia, Mr Varghese said.
Australia will also launch a major cultural promotion programme in India from October to January 2013, he added.
Mr K.N. Marzook, chairman, Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said on the occasion that India and Australia share historical ties. The contemporary period has seen these historical contacts reinforced on the bilateral level. The two countries enjoy rapidly growing trade and economic relations, he said.
Mr David Holly, Australian Consul General, South India, talked about the growing trade and fiscal relations with India.
No comments:
Post a Comment