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India Today
a day ago
- Business
- India Today
From pakoras to policy: Australian high commissioner Green on strengthening India-Australia bonds
In an exclusive roundtable discussion with Indian media experts and journalists, Philip Green, the Australian High Commissioner to India, shared insights into the multifaceted relationship between Australia and India. The conversation spanned trade, security, education, sports, immigration, and global conflicts, offering a comprehensive view of Australia's engagement with one of Asia's fastest-growing Relations and Economic PartnershipHigh Commissioner Green highlighted Australia's unwavering commitment to free trade, noting that 'tariffs are a tax on consumers, and they cause inflation and they reduce growth.' He praised the success of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), stating, 'Australian tariffs for all Indian goods entering Australia will be zero from next year.'advertisement The impact on Indian exports has been significant. Green pointed out that 'over the last five years, India's exports to the world have grown by 35%. That sounds pretty good, but Indian exports to Australia 66%. So exports to Australia are growing at nearly twice the rate of Indian exports to the world.' He further described the complementarities between the two economies, explaining, 'what Australia has is all the things that India needs for its next phase of growth: high-quality energy, minerals, including critical minerals and skills, Australian universities setting up here in India, and also the vocational skills supply chain.'Security Cooperation and the QuadGreen described the Quad as transformational for bilateral ties, saying, 'The quad is a game changer for Australia and India, we have always been friends, but now Australia and India are strategically aligned.' He highlighted recent engagements: 'We've already had two big court meetings this year, January and July, our foreign ministers met in the quad. And the expectation is that we will have a leaders meeting here in Delhi later in the year.' On concerns regarding U.S. policy under former President Trump, Green projected confidence in Australia's reliability, stating, 'In a world which is becoming more unpredictable, Australia is a face of stability and will be an earnest friend of India going forward.' Regarding AUKUS, he acknowledged Trump's scrutiny but affirmed, 'the arrangement stands well, and I think it will stand the test of scrutiny.'Sports Diplomacy and Cultural ExchangeGreen expressed enthusiasm about expanding sports cooperation beyond cricket. 'Australia will be hosting the Olympic Games in 2032, and India has its hand up for Olympic Games. India has its hand up for a Commonwealth Games,' he noted, offering Australia as a partner to support India's capabilities in major sporting events. He also highlighted Australia's expertise in stadium design and sports precincts. On cultural ties, Green mentioned Australia's coffee culture, noting that 'the flat white [was] invented in Melbourne and now known throughout the world as a delightful way to drink coffee and milk.'Immigration and Community RelationsAcknowledging the growing Indian diaspora, Green stated, 'Indian migrants are the fastest growing migrant group in Australia. Indian languages are the fastest growing language group in Australia, a million people of Indian origin may live in Australia.' On hate crimes, he was firm: 'Violence and intolerance in our society cannot be accepted, and our government has been quick to condemn the recent incidents.'advertisementGlobal Conflicts and EducationGreen expressed concern over global conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and Gaza, emphasising Australia's support for Ukraine and advocating for a two-state solution in the Middle East. On education, he highlighted Australian universities establishing campuses in India, providing innovative programs such as '2 years in India, 2 years in Melbourne, you come out with a degree from both countries.'Strategic OutlookThroughout the discussion, Green positioned Australia as a predictable and long-term partner for India, spanning trade, security, sports, education, and culture. His message was clear: in an uncertain world, Australia aims to be a stable, reliable, and committed friend to India.- Ends
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How past FTAs shaped UK deal & how UK agreement will change past pacts
NEW DELHI: The India-UK free trade agreement will take at least a year to be implemented, but it sets the template for some of the high-stakes negotiations that New Delhi is currently engaged in. With India agreeing to cut the duty on imported automobiles - at least the high-end ones - to 10% over the next few years, a similar offer is likely to be made for cars imported from EU member nations such as France, Germany and Italy. It also sets the tone for the bilateral trade deal with the US, as 10% will act as a floor of sorts. The Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement with Australia set the tone for allowing lower duty import of wines and spirits, something that was a taboo until three years ago. Or take the treaty with the UAE, which opened government procurement for the first time. It paved the way for a similar deal with the UK. In agriculture, government officials are citing the UK, European Free Trade Association (comprising Switzerland and Norway) and Australia deals to block American President Donald Trump from opening the Indian market to US dairy, maize and soybean. India has so far managed to convince its trade partners that it cannot risk the livelihood of millions of low-income farmers, given the large farms in the developed world. The same argument is being made to New Zealand, a competitive dairy exporter, as well as to EU. While pushing for the final deal with India, Australia, too, had made fresh overtures for dairy. In trade negotiations, every deal is unique, but what has been opened becomes a floor for future talks. What the other trading partner offers is also critical. The new FTAs India is signing may impact older ones. India, which wants ASEAN members, Japan and South Korea to review existing trade deals, may face fresh demands. Japan, South Korea and Thailand may seek parity on automobile tariffs under the revised pacts. India has over a dozen trade agreements, and each partner is closely watching the new ones in the pipeline. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Recalibrating the future of India-Australia relations
Five years ago, India and Australia elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), a diplomatic milestone that reflected not only a convergence of values and strategic interests but also a shared vision for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. The June 4 visit to New Delhi by Australia's deputy prime minister and defence minister Richard Marles to mark the anniversary of the CSP is not merely an occasion for ceremonial stocktaking, it is a pivotal moment that calls for a bold, forward-looking recalibration. India and Australia must now move beyond incremental progress and embrace a transformational vision for their partnership in the Indo-Pacific. CSP has already delivered substantive gains: robust defence cooperation, deepening economic ties, burgeoning technology linkages, and vibrant people-to-people engagement. And yet, the Indo-Pacific today is more volatile and contested than it was in 2020. Great power rivalries have sharpened, regional fault lines have widened, and internal complexities in both countries demand strategic clarity. To build on, and surpass, the achievements of the last five years in the next five, we must dismantle structural impediments, correct asymmetries, and advance a series of focused, high-impact initiatives that re-imagine the bilateral canvas. First, the economic pillar of CSP needs to evolve beyond tariff liberalisation and traditional trade. While the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement was a historic breakthrough, it must now serve as a stepping stone to a much more ambitious Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). A forward-leaning CECA must encompass services trade, facilitation of investment, regulatory harmonisation, digital governance, and intellectual property frameworks. A catalytic opportunity lies in unlocking Australia's vast institutional capital — especially its AUD 4 trillion superannuation funds — for investment in India's infrastructure, green transition, and digital innovation. India, in turn, could consider establishing a bespoke sovereign risk mitigation facility to de-risk and incentivise long-term Australian investment in priority sectors. Second, the 2022 critical minerals investment partnership remains an underleveraged strategic asset. With the global shift towards clean energy and the imperative to de-risk supply chains from Chinese dominance, this partnership must be elevated into a formal institutional mechanism. A joint India–Australia Critical Minerals Development Corporation, underwritten by concessional finance, technology sharing, and export-import arrangements, could bridge the gap between policy intent and commercial viability. Third, defence cooperation — though significantly enhanced — must now enter a new phase anchored in industrial collaboration. India's drive towards defence indigenisation under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative opens up promising avenues for joint research and development, co-development, and co-production. A dedicated Defence Innovation and Industrial Corridor linking Indian and Australian MSMEs, research universities, and start-ups could become a flagship initiative. Emerging domains (autonomous maritime platforms, undersea surveillance, and space-based intelligence) warrant deeper trilateral collaboration with trusted Quad partners. Fourth, diaspora-related frictions, notably around the fringe Khalistani separatism, have at times complicated bilateral diplomacy. Such issues, often inflamed by misperceptions and misinformation, need calibrated responses. Robust law enforcement must be complemented by more strategic and sustained engagement with the diaspora. An India–Australia Diaspora Dialogue Forum (comprising civil society leaders, scholars, and young professionals) can serve as a platform to deepen mutual understanding, temper polarising narratives, and anchor people-to-people ties in shared civic values. India's public diplomacy, too, must evolve, moving beyond cultural showcasing to substantive policy dialogues, youth exchanges, and think tank residencies. Fifth, education and innovation must now occupy the frontline of bilateral engagement. With Australia a preferred destination for Indian students, the next frontier lies in two-way academic mobility and co-creation of knowledge ecosystems. We propose the establishment of a bi-national University of Indo-Pacific Studies, with campuses in both countries, as a world-class hub for research in maritime law, AI, sustainability, and public policy. A complementary Australia–India Innovation Corridor, connecting IITs, Australian universities, and innovation clusters, can tackle grand challenges in climate tech, health, digital public infrastructure, and food systems. Encouragingly, Australia's new institutional footprint in India, be it Deakin University's campus in GIFT City or the University of Melbourne's Global Centre in New Delhi, is setting the stage for a new era of educational diplomacy. But systemic reforms are still needed: Recognition of qualifications, faculty mobility, and regulatory harmonisation must be fast-tracked. Finally, CSP must become a more proactive force in shaping regional architecture. India and Australia have collaborated well within Quad and IORA, but should now play a leading role in newer multilateral formats — like the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), Partners in the Blue Pacific, and the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative. The time is ripe for trilateral and minilateral initiatives involving Asean, Pacific Island, and African littoral states. Coordinated development finance, digital connectivity programs, and joint maritime security training in third countries can enhance the normative reach of this partnership. In these five years, CSP has laid a strong foundation. But for the relationship to fulfil its potential, the scaffolding must now become more ambitious, institutionalised, and future-oriented. This is a historical juncture in the Indo-Pacific, and the India–Australia partnership must not just be a bilateral success story; it must become an axis of regional transformation and stability. Amitabh Mattoo is professor and dean, School of International Studies, JNU, and founding director of the Australia India Institute and Manish Dabhade is associate professor, School of International Studies, JNU. The views expressed are personal.
Hindustan Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Will work with India on combating terrorism, says Australian Dy PM
New Delhi: Australia backs India's efforts to combat terrorism and the halting of military actions with Pakistan last month was 'an act of Indian leadership', Australian deputy prime minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday, while outlining Canberra's plans to foster a closer defence and security partnership with New Delhi. Marles, who is also the defence minister, is in India as part of a four-nation tour that has taken him to the Maldives and Sri Lanka. During an exclusive interview, he responded to a question on how Australia perceives China's backing to Pakistan during the recent clashes with India by saying both Australia and India feel China's massive military build-up has had 'an impact on the strategic landscape of the Indo-Pacific'. Marles also said Australia is hopeful a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) will be concluded with India in the 'not too distant future' to build on the gains from the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) signed in 2022. Excerpts from the interview: As India and Australia mark five years of their comprehensive strategic partnership, you've said the re-elected Albanese government is going to be more ambitious. How do you look back at these five years and what's next? India's place in Australia's worldview has grown dramatically and I think under the leadership of Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi, it feels like there's a much greater prominence from an Indian perspective in respect of Australia certainly, if you look at what's occurred in the last five years. The bilateral relationship has absolutely gone to a greater level, we are doing more economically together, we have never been more strategically aligned. That is being reflected in a much greater security [and] defence relationship, which is not just in terms of how we engage in forums that we meet in, the way in which we speak, but actually at a practical level, we're doing more. [Something] as specific as maritime domain awareness, what we're doing with our Boeing P-8 surveillance aircraft that both countries use. We're doing much more cooperation in respect of that today than we've ever done before and that's about trust. When you're sharing that kind of information, you're only doing that if you have a fundamental trust. You don't share that information with anyone other than the closest of friends. But the fact that we are able to share that information and work collaboratively together in terms of supporting those aircraft, means that the ability for us to see the ocean and maritime domain awareness is enormously enhanced for India and Australia. Our economic relationship has grown significantly, it's going from strength to strength. One focus area for Australia is ensuring the Indo-Pacific remains free, open and secure, and you are looking very closely at the Indian Ocean. Australia gifted a patrol boat to the Maldives during your visit. What more would you like do with India in the Indian Ocean? The starting point is we want to see a free and open Indian Ocean. We absolutely want to work with India, [which] is the major player here. But we feel there is work we can do, capability that we can bring to the table in assisting India's work in the Indian Ocean. From an Australian point of view, 50% of our trade goes right past the front door here. We've got a deep national interest in the rules of the road applying in the Indian Ocean, freedom of navigation, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of trade. It's a growing area of strategic interest for us – our defence strategic review in 2022 and 2023 identifies the northeast Indian Ocean as a priority area of interest. We want to be engaged more, but the principal partner is India. In the case of that patrol boat with the Maldives, that's obviously a small country, but one where that can make a real difference in terms of capability. We have experience in working with small island states in the Pacific, what we're doing there is built on a programme that we do for Pacific Island countries. We're familiar with how to assist, and I think the gifting of that patrol boat presents an opportunity for us to cooperate with India. There's been a fundamental shift in India-Australia defence ties, including the signing of a logistics support agreement and an air-to-air refuelling agreement. How do you plan to expand interoperability and exercises? There is a whole lot of ambition that we have. The starting point is the complexity of the world and the strategic alignment of India and Australia are making it so much more attractive for us both to work closer together. There remains a lot more that we can do in maritime domain awareness. Looking at ways in which we can expand our exercises, bilaterally but potentially with other countries, and we've done a little bit of that in the past, but I think there's opportunity to do more of that. There's more we can do in the context of intelligence-sharing. But the biggest area, far and away, is maritime domain awareness and maritime activity. We have a couple of key agreements and roadmaps that we want to see progress through this year in the lead up to a 2+2 meeting [of defence and foreign ministers] later in the year and the leaders' summit. We see this as a really important year to progress all of that. China's military activities across the region are a concern for many countries and there are clear signs China backed Pakistan, in terms of equipment and surveillance, during the recent clashes with India. In that context, how does Australia view the hostilities between India and Pakistan? Though there's two points [here], we obviously condemn the terrorist attack that happened at Pahalgam, our sympathies, thoughts, prayers are very much with the families of those who lost their lives. We stand with India and all countries in every effort to combat terrorism. We do acknowledge and welcome the stoppage of military activity. We actually see that as an act of Indian leadership. But we'll continue to work with India in seeking to combat terrorism in all its forms. You kind of asked it in the context of China and I appreciate why you asked that. I think the simple thing I'd say is, at a broader level, our relationship with China is complex. It is our largest trading partner, but we have a security anxiety in relation to China and one which we've expressed to China itself. We are watching the biggest conventional military buildup in the world since the end of World War II by China, and that's not being done with strategic reassurance. The intent [and] strategic reasons for China to do this has not been made clear and that definitely has an impact on the strategic landscape of the Indo-Pacific. We feel that, India feels that as well. We last had a 2+2 meeting in November 2023, it's really the last time I had a substantive meeting with my counterpart. In the 18 months since then, I think all of what I've just said has become more complex. The reasons for India and Australia to be working more closer together have only grown. The Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) changed the economic landscape between India and Australia. How far are we on the path towards the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA)? If you look across the four areas of the economic roadmap that Prime Minister Albanese spoke about earlier this year – education, green energy, agriculture and tourism – we've seen real progress in respect of all of those. CECA specifically, those negotiations continue. We are hopeful to see a conclusion of CECA in the not too distant future. What that would do is take our trading arrangements to the next level, but again, if we look back over the last five years, the rate at which India's trade with Australia has grown is double that of the rate at which it's grown with the rest of the world. The India-Australia trading relationship, measured against all of India's trading relationships, is a stand-out. What we've already done has made a huge difference and we really are very excited about taking that to the next level. It's a huge opportunity for Australia, we hope it's an opportunity for India. Both our economies are complementary, we supply what India needs for its economy. Is there anything in particular holding up negotiations on CECA? No, I think those negotiations are going well. They are negotiations and people bring different positions to the table, and you work them through and that's completely natural. But we're pleased with the progress and we're hopeful it will be concluded in the not too distant future. India is set to host the Quad Summit at a time when the US administration appears to be more inward-looking. What would Australia like to see on the agenda of the Quad Summit? I don't necessarily accept that assertion. We all want to see American leadership in the world, but the Quad has always been and continues to be a really fantastic opportunity for four like-minded countries, democracies with shared values operating in the Indo-Pacific, to do so cooperatively for the benefit of the Indo-Pacific. I think this meeting is really important in terms of continuing the momentum that we've seen with the Quad, across the fields that the Quad has been engaged in up until now. We want to see that expanded. I suppose in the context of the question you've asked, it will be the first Quad Summit of the Trump administration. I think you're right, that does give it significance in that context. The Quad has been a very important construct for our countries to show leadership in the Indo-Pacific and this meeting is really important in relation to that. Do you think the Indian government's concerns about activities of Khalistani separatists in Australia have been addressed? Are there still concerns about their activities? I hope not. Obviously, people in Australia have a right to have their views, but to be clear, there's no sympathy for the Khalistani movement by the Australian government, none at all. We take our obligations very seriously to provide security for India's missions, consulates, the high commission in Australia. How do you plan on building on the role of the Indian diaspora in Australia to further strengthen bilateral relations? The Indian diaspora is a wonderful asset for Australia. It's the fastest growing community in Australia and is bringing an energy and an industry to the Australian economy. We are huge recipients of everything
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Australian Deputy PM Marles to visit India this week
Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will visit India this week as part of a four-nation trip that is aimed at boosting Canberra's security cooperation with South and Southeast Asia. The Deputy Prime Minister's visit to India coincides with the fifth anniversary of the firming up of the Australia and India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which underpins the two countries' relationship and shared vision for the Indian Ocean, an Australian readout said. Mr. Marles will travel to South and Southeast Asia from June 2 to 5 for high-level meetings, the readout said. He is also Australia's Defence Minister. Besides India, Mr. Marles is also scheduled to visit the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. 'Australia values our relationships with neighbours in the Indo-Pacific. Our deepening cooperation is at the heart of Australia's approach to ensure the Indo-Pacific remains open, inclusive and resilient,' Mr. Marles said. Beyond Border-Gavaskar: On India-Australia trade agreement 'I look forward to meeting leaders and welcome productive discussions on how we can work together to shape a peaceful, secure, and prosperous region that is respectful of sovereignty,' he said. Mr. Marles will be the first senior Australian Minister to visit India after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese retained power for a second term following his Labor Party's victory in the parliamentary election. India and Australia signed the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) in 2022 and are negotiating a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA).
