Australia-India CEO Forum

Two of the most senior Indian Ministers have visited Sydney as part of the growing bilateral cooperation leading into 2025. I was grateful to attend the Business Council of Australia ,Confederation of Indian Industry and Australia-India CEO Forum who hosted External Affaiars Minister, Dr.S. Jaishankar, and Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal. The discussions focused on strategic priorities in the bilateral relationship and how it can expand the bilateral business between Australia and India through a major focus on Digital Technologies, New Supply Chain models, Skill Development, Mobility and Green Energy focused partnerships which will drive growth exponentially. Bran Black Janakiraman Sarvesvaran High Commission of India, Canberra, Australia The Consulate General of India Sydney Confederation of Indian Industry Tata Consultancy Services Australia and New Zealand

Great to discuss the growing Australia-India bilateral relationship with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar last week. Minister Jaishankar spoke positively about the alignment between our economies. From the role Australia’s education sector can play in facilitating the expansion of India’s skills base, to India’s booming tech sector and the support it will provide along the energy transition journey. With the governments of both nations committed to expanding economic ties, increased business-to-business and people-to-people engagements will play a critical role in identifying the opportunities to deliver shared prosperity. Business Council of Australia Australia-India CEO Forum Jodi McKay

Great to sit with other CEO's today at the Business Council of Australia Executive Roundtable with Indian Minister for External Affairs, Dr S. Jaishankar, focused on strategic business issues in our bilateral relationship and how we can expand business linkages and particularly investment into decarbonization, green electrons and green molecules

The Business Council of Australia with the support of the Australia-India CEO Forum hosted Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar for a round table discussion today with leading Australian companies. The roundtable was chaired by BCA Chief Executive Bran Black with a welcome by Indian Consul General Janakiraman Sarvesvaran. The discussion focused on the strategic issues in the bilateral relationship and how these relate to expanding business linkages, particularly investment. The Minister also made his first public comments since the US election, providing an insight into how the Indian Government believes a change of government will impact globally. We were also pleased to support the Centre for Australia-India Relations Director and CEO Network, which draws on the bilateral strengths of leading CEOs and executives with an Indian heritage to facilitate greater economic engagement.

The Australia-India CEO Forum has closed its intersessional work for 2024, presenting our deliberations to the Indian and Australian Governments in a virtual meeting of the CEO Forum on 28 October attended by Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell and Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal. Following the CEO Forum meeting in Mumbai last year, the following five joint working groups were established in key sectors identified by the 2023 CEO Forum: Education Infrastructure, Finance and Investment Energy, Net Zero, Critical Minerals and Resources Digital Economy Agritech The working groups were co-chaired by leading Australian and Indian companies and met virtually during the year to develop recommendations across the five sectors. We thank those CEOs and executives who provided valuable input into what is a significant body of work that will now assist in informing both governments’ bilateral economic strategies. We also acknowledge the leadership of our chairs Shemara Wikramanayake, CEO Macquarie Group and Anish Shah, CEO Mahindra Group, as well as the support of the Business Council of Australia and the Confederation of Indian Industry. We are now developing our workplan for 2025 as we seek to further strengthen the bilateral economic relationship.

Agritech has become a key focus for the Australian Government in its negotiations on CECA as it seeks to grow market access for Australian agriculture. Managing Director and CEO of GrainCorp Robert Spurway has co-chaired a joint working group with India as part of the Australia-India CEO Forum’s agenda. This week, Robert and his Indian Co-chair Ramesh Ramachandran, Managing Director Mahindra Group Agri Solutions and EPC Irrigation, participated in a panel discussion in New Delhi as part of an agritech roundtable organised by Grain Trade Australia. They spoke about the importance of the CEO Forum’s work and of a shared framework for innovation in agriculture.

Thank you to the Business Council of Australia and the Australia-India CEO Forum for hosting an engaging discussion with India’s Minister for Industry and Commerce, the Hon. Piyush Goyal. It was exciting to hear Minister Goyal outline his desire to lift two-way trade to a target of AUD$500 billion as India’s consumer power continues to grow, with services industries expected to play a crucial role. Minister Goyal spoke about the initiatives which are already working to strengthen India’s relationship with Australia, such as the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), and hosted an engaging discussion with leaders of businesses on both sides of the corridor. It’s great to have the business communities of Australia and India aligned, and working together to continue our shared journey of growth.

The Business Council of Australia welcoming today’s bilateral meeting between Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell and Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal to progress the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement. https://lnkd.in/gmAFatYc

The Australia-India CEO Forum welcomes discussions occurring today between the Australian and Indian Governments on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal are meeting in Adelaide for the 19th Australia-India Joint Ministerial Commission. https://lnkd.in/gtrztHVF

A valuable planning meeting yesterday in Sydney with CII International and Business Council of Australia discussing the 2025 work plan of the CEO Forum. Special mention to the team behind the CEO Forum: BCA Bran Black, Jodi McKay and Wendy Black CII Chandrajit Banerjee, Marut Sen Gupta, Neerja Bhatia, Kaushlendra Sinha and Abhay Mehta.