As Australia sets out strengthen its ties with India, it is looking at emerging as a strong supplier to meet India’s growing economic demands.
Ahead of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s forthcoming visit here, Peter Varghese, Australian High Commissioner to India, while declining to reveal much on the possible civil nuclear pact between the two countries, said, “From natural resources such as gas, agriculture products, food business, financial services, infrastructure, mining and contract equipment hold prospects for Australia in India.”
Shying away from giving more details on the proposed talks during Gillard’s visit, he said, “A couple of announcements will be made during the Prime Minister’s visit. Let her disclose them.”
Gillard’s visit is significant in the backdrop of her country’s recent decision to reverse a policy that banned supply of uranium to India. Currently, negotiations are on. Australia has significant uranium deposits.
In an interaction with the media here on Friday, Varghese said the target was to double trade between India and Australia in five years. Bilateral trade grew to $20 billion last year.
Australian exports to India are on the rise and India is now Australia’s fourth biggest export market. Services exports to India have also been growing rapidly with education leading from the front, he said.
From October 16, the Australian High Commission will be organising 100 events across 18 Indian cities with diverse elements such as music, theatre, art, food, technology and literature.