MELBOURNE, 23 November 2023: Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan will visit India in 2024. This was announced by the Premier today addressing the one -day Australia India Leadership Dialogue (AILD), organised here by the Australia India Institute (AII).
Addressing the gathering ,she said, the relationship between our two countries has never been closer. Victoria is home to the country’s largest Indian community, and “with 250,000 Indian-born Victorians contributing to our proud multicultural identity, and many more claiming Indian heritage”, she said.
She added, ” With 250,000 Indian-born Victorians contributing to our proud multicultural identity, and many more claiming Indian heritage. But the census numbers don’t do justice to the strength and depth of that contribution. Modern Victoria simply would not be what it is today without the talent, hard work and entrepreneurial spirit of the Indian community.”
“Trade between Victoria and India is worth almost $3 billion, and last year 53,000 international students from India enrolled to study here, as well as 170,000 Indian tourists. All that doesn’t just happen by accident.”
She said, “Next year I will travel to India to help build those connections in trade and tourism in person. We both have so much to gain from a closer relationship, and I look forward to seeing it continue to deepen during my time as Premier.”
“I hope today’s Dialogue has both strengthened some of those bonds and sparked fresh ideas for how we can take things further. On a personal note, I look forward to seeing Victoria’s relationship with India continue to deepen during my time as Premier, ” she said.
The AILD held at the Sofitel, Melbourne had opening remarks by Lisa Singh, CEO, AII, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong introduced Phillip Green, Australia’s Ambassador to India, India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, who was introduced by Indian High Commissioner , Manpreet Vohra and special remarks given by Australia’s Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Birmingham.
The four sessions held later were on The Clean Energy Transition: Decarbonising Towards Net Zero, Skills for Success: Revolutionising the Job Market in the Digital Age, Bridges of Bharosa: Security Cooperation in a Contested World, and Tryst between Identities: The Convergence of Technology and Culture.
The closing remarks, in the last session, were given by Manpreet Vohra, Philip Green, Lisa Singh and Avani Prabhakar, Atlassian.
