PA/01/12 9 January 2012
NSW AND INDIA PARTNER THROUGH CeBIT AUSTRALIA 2012 TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC GROWTH
The Premier of New South Wales, Barry O’Farrell, and the Deputy Premier & Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Stoner, have announced that India will be the partner country for CeBIT Australia 2012. CeBIT Australia is the Asia Pacific’s largest ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) business event. The 2012 event will be held in Sydney from 22-24 May.
In making the announcement, Premier O’Farrell said ‘the NSW Government is committed to growing our economy internationally through business, export, investment, and R&D opportunities, particularly with fast growing markets like India’. The Premier said CeBIT 2012 will be used as a platform to build linkages between the NSW and Indian economies.
Premier O’Farrell undertook a trade and investment mission to India in November 2011 and believes CeBIT will offer an exciting opportunity to build upon relationships developed between business leaders during the visit.
The Premier added ‘it will help NSW companies target Indian ICT markets as well as business, trade and investment opportunities across other key sectors including professional services, education and research, manufacturing, tourism, and healthcare’. Mr Stoner said Sydney and NSW would be promoted as a key Asia Pacific investment location for Indian companies wanting to target the Australian market and partner with NSW organisations.
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Mr Peter Varghese AO, also welcomed the announcement. He said ‘this partnership will add further momentum to the strategic relationship between India and Australia. India's IT sector has grown rapidly over the past 15 years and is predicted to grow annually by around 25-26 per cent. CeBIT will provide the opportunity to broaden existing links and develop new partnerships in the IT sector between our two countries’.
India is Australia’s 4th largest export market and 7th largest trading partner, and New South Wales’ 14th largest trading partner.