Visiting New South Wales (NSW) Premier Michael Baird on Monday said he was quite excited by the energy and keenness of the recently elected Indian leadership to do business with foreign countries, including Australia.
Interacting with media here on the sidelines of the Australia Business Week in India (ABWI), Baird said, "I am more excited than when I was coming here (to India). The energy in this country has captured me. There is a new understanding of India. It was very difficult to have access in the past. We Australians are getting a sense that Prime Minister Modi's Government is very clear on promoting minimum government and maximum governance."
He further stated that he was getting a feeling that now it would be easier for Australians to do business in India, and that there was no doubt in his mind that India is a hugely attractive investment destination.
He also said that business-oriented summits like the ABWI and the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in Gandhinagar are hugely beneficial for all, the organizers as well as the participants.
On being asked whether delegation-level visits were actually coming up trumps on deliverables, Baird said, "There is an immense upside and trust to the ties between Australia and India. There are relative and achievable benefits to such visits."
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Braid was speaking days after his state had inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in various fields, including education, skill development, sustainable urban development, clean technology and water security with the Government of Gujarat.
The MoU was signed by Atanu Chakroborty, Principal Secretary (Industry) of Gujarat Government, and Mr. Blair Combell of Australia's New South Wales' Government.
The objective of this MoU is to inspire the students and experts from both the sides to make research works and higher studies in various sectors.
For skill development, a center of excellence sports management and training centre would be set up by Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) and Australia's University of Wollongong.
In the MoU, a special emphasis has been given for planning and designing of the new cities under the sustainable urban development and encouraging green buildings in Gujarat.
For water security, exchange of Australian expertise - best practices in water management and water distribution in Gujarat will be done.
And for clean technology the possibilities of partnership for recycling of waste products would be incarnated.
Trade and investment are the backbone of the Australia-India relationship. India is Australia's 11th largest overall trading partner, with two-way trade worth Australian dollars 15.2 billion. India is also Australia's fifth largest export market, with total exports pegged at Australian dollars 11.4 billion.
Seventy-five percent of Australian merchandise exports to India comprise of metallurgical coal, gold, copper, and education-related travel services are worth Australian dollars 1.3 billion.
Australia is very keen on promoting business ties in 14 sectors, including agricultural equipment, technology and services, dairy, premium food and beverage, cultural services, sports, education, water, health and assisted living, life sciences etc.
India is New South Wale's 14th largest trading partner.
