Australian state plans initiatives for trade growth with India

The Australian state of South Australia is taking several India-specific initiatives around the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 as it seeks to bolster bilateral economic relations with the country.
"The South Australian government is planning several key initiatives with India around the 2015 Cricket World Cup and is planning to take key business people from India to Australia before the match," South Australian Deputy Premier John Rau said today.
The key sectors that South Australia is looking at are mining, infrastructure, education, transport, urban planning, water, manufacturing, defence and tourism, he added.
Rau was speaking on the sidelines of an event organised by South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) announcing the names of 15 Indian school cricketers selected for 15 days of coaching in Adelaide.

"Business houses will have a great opportunity to explore investment and trade opportunities alongside cricket. We are inviting many leading Indian companies," Rau said.
South Australia is keen to engage with India in areas where it can add the greatest value to India's continued growth and demand for skills training, technologies, energy and infrastructure, formalised through a tailored strategy called the South Australia-India Engagement Strategy, a pathway to bilateral economic development and trade' he added.

Another focus area for the South Australian government is tourism, he added.
"Our aim is to double the the visitor expenditure from India to South Australia to AUD 40 million by 2020. It is around AUD 20 million now. The tourism is an important sector for us," Rau said.

South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) aims to growing the state's tourism industry. It is set up by the South Australian Government to promote the state as a holiday destination.