Twenty-year-old Anjali was the Australian High Commissioner to India for a day
Acting Girls Takeover Ambassador Anjali from Lucknow took over from High Commissioner Harinder Sidhu for a day to mark the International Day of the Girl on 11 October. She began her day engaging with eminent people on discussions around gender equality at the Residence. She also addressed an all staff meeting and hosted a friendly soccer match at the High Commission with our Direct Aid Partner CEQUIN (Centre for Equity and Inclusion).
Prime Minister Scott Morrison's address at the 2019 Lowy Lecture
Prime Minister Scott Morrison outlined his vision for Australia’s place in the world at the 2019 Lowy Lecture. He also announced that he would be visiting India in January at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Another step in cementing India as a top tier partner for Australia. Link to the Speech : https://www.pm.gov.au/media/speech-lowy-lecture-our-interest
Australia-India Council Grants announced
Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women has announced 11 recipients of this year’s Australia India Council (AIC) award grants. These projects will help in deepening our engagement & relationship with India and also promote a better understanding between our two countries.
Link to the Media Release: https://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2019/mp_mr_190918.aspx
RCEP & the opportunities for India (OpEd by Australia’s High Commissioner to India, H.E. Harinder Sidhu)
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia concludes his India trip bolstering ties in the resources sector
Australia’s Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator the Hon Matthew Canavan was in India from 26-29 August 2019. The Minister travelled to three-Indian cities – Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai – where he met with ministerial counterparts and resource industry leaders.
Link to Minister's release: https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/canavan/media-releases/india-singapore-visit-helps-bolster-ties-key-economies
University of Melbourne launches new India strategy
High Commissioner Harinder Sidhu hosted the launch of University of Melbourne’s five year India strategy –‘Engaging with India 2020-2024 – highlighting collaboration in health, water, law, cultural arts and postgraduate teaching and learning’. The strategy aims to address key global challenges and deliver mutual benefits for both countries. Education is a key component of Australia’s India Economic Strategy 2035.
Australian Minister of Defence speech at the Indo-Pacific Conference, Western Australia
Australian Minister of Defence Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC delivered a keynote speech at the WA Indo-Pacific Defence Conference highlighting Australia’s vision for the Indo Pacific to remain free, open & inclusive. Addressing the conference she said, "To do this we must strengthen our partnerships, increase our presence, build collaboration & invest in defence capability." Read More...
Australia: Improving health outcomes for under-served communities in rural Rajasthan
The e-Doctor Clinic - a pioneering initiative by Smile Foundation & Karma Healthcare - was funded under the Australian Government's Business Partnerships Platform - India window. The project was recently launched by our Economic Counsellor Timothy Kendall and aims to bring quality healthcare to under-served communities in Rajasthan through digital technology. BPP is a flagship initiative of the Australian Government that supports partnerships with businesses to deliver sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction, while also ensuring commercial returns for business.
AustralianSuper to invest up to USD 1 billion in the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund
AustralianSuper, Australia’s largest superannuation fund has announced that it will invest up to USD 1 billion in the National Invesment and Infrastructure Fund. Another step towards building stronger economic links with under the India Economic Strategy.
Australia-India finalise a new veterinary health protocol
In another positive development in the Australia-India agriculture and animal husbandry sector, Australia and India recently finalised a new veterinary health protocol for the export of Australian breeder sheep to India. Australian sheep will be part of a sheep breeding program for wool development, an initiative under India’s National Livestock Mission. It is expected that the first sheep will arrive in India in September-October 2019 for settling at the Uttarakhand State Wool Development Board.
Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) Annual Engagement in India
The Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) supports 23 diverse projects in India, which contribute towards key development outcomes. The program also strengthens delivery of public services in the areas of economic empowerment, inclusive development for person with disabilities and women, education and health. Our teams recently visited a few project sites in TamilNadu, WestBengal and UttarPradesh. ANCP Partners also met in Chennai for an Annual Partners Meet to exchange project knowledge and learning. Here are a few snapshots.
Training delivered in Australia to boost Indian biosecurity capability and bilateral ties
Five Indian officials from the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare travelled to Australia in June 2019 to participate in specialised training that could help boost India’s agricultural exports. The training focused on the use of biosecurity treatments, particularly on in-transit cold treatment for the export of horticultural products, including table grapes.
Address to Asialink and Bloomberg “Where we live” By Prime Minister The Hon Scott Morrison MP
International Yoga Day celebrated by Australian High Commission staff
Members of the High Commission in Delhi along with interns from NGO Asha Society attended a yoga session organised by India’s Ministry of External Affairs to commemorate the International Yoga Day.
High Commissioner’s address to the Indian Association of Foreign Correspondents
High commissioner Harinder Sidhu in her interaction with members of the Indian Association of Foreign Affairs Correspondents(IAFAC) described India as a leader and a powerhouse. She said, "India and Australia have developed mutual trust over the past decade to work together on strategic issues in the Indo-Pacific region. The two countries could now work together to strengthen the economic order in the region". Read More..
Australian warship HMAS Toowoomba's visit to Chennai
Australian warship HMAS Toowoomba was in Chennai as part of Australia's commitment to engage with Indo-Pacific nations and to promote regional maritime security and cooperation. Toowoomba participated in ‘Exercise La Perouse’ in the Bay of Bengal to enhance interoperability, build partner capacity and strengthen the professional relationships with regional nations. The Australian Navy and Indian Navy also faced off in a friendly game of volleyball while in Chennai.
FFA supports development of women’s football across India
Representatives from Football Federation Australia were in India recently to support the development of women’s football across India. Adelaide United Captain Emma Checker and Junior Matildas Head Coach Rae Dower conducted professional development workshops for female Indian coaches, led a series of football clinics for girls and boys’ teams and met with the Indian U-17 women’s national team, who will represent their country on home soil in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2020.
Ode of Remembrance to ANZAC soldiers across India
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Her Excellency Ms Harinder Sidhu, and Australia’s Consul-General's in Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai paid their respects to martyrs who lost their lives in service to their country. Anzac Day, commemorated on 25 April, marks the anniversary of the first major military action by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) in 1915 during the First World War. Approximately 16,000 Indian troops fought alongside the ANZACs in Gallipoli and around 1,600 lost their lives. Over 8,700 troops from Australia and 2,779 from New Zealand died in that conflict, marking both nations’ greatest loss of life in a single battle.
Commencement of the five year subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa
Applications to sponsor a parent for a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa will be open from 17 April 2019. Once a sponsorship application has been approved, a sponsored parent will be able to apply for a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa. Applications for the visa are intended to open from 1 July 2019. For more information including sponsor eligibility criteria, number of places available and costs, please visit the Home Affairs website.
Australian Government's response to the India Economic Strategy
- Link to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s address to the Australian Financial Review India Business Summit
- Link to the Australian Government’s response to An India Economic Strategy to 2035
- Link to Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham’s address to the Australian Financial Review India Business Summit 2018
India Economic Strategy Released
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull released Australia’s India Economic Strategy in Brisbane. The strategy, led by former DFAT Secretary Peter Varghese, is an ambitious plan to grow the economic partnership between India and Australia out to 2035.
Media release: India Economic Strategy | Full report is available at indiaeconomicstrategy.dfat.gov.au
Capturing India’s economic transformation (video link or watch below)