MELBOURNE : In a move aimed at strengthening the bilateral commercial ties, South Australia has unveiled a revised engagement strategy with India and pledged its support to Narendra Modi-led NDA government’s two “key” flagship programmes.
Launching the latest updated strategy paper recently, Minister for Investment and Trade Martin Hamilton-Smith has said the state’s relationship with India has evolved since the release of its first ‘India Engagement Strategy’ in 2012.
“This refinement of the original strategy will prepare South Australian businesses to embrace new opportunities that stem from our evolving relationship with India,” Hamilton-Smith said.
“Major reforms have also occurred in India after the 2014 election of the Modi Government. We have identified a Government-to-Government approach as being effective in providing opportunities for commercial and cultural engagement,” he said.
The paper has identified that the services economy within these sectors had the greatest potential for effective commercial engagement with India, and supported two key initiatives promoted by the Modi Government -‘Skilling India’ and ‘Make in India’.
In addition to this, the paper also pinpointed additional opportunities in agribusiness, premium food and wine, tourism and culture, urban planning and health.
“We have listened to exporters and updated the strategy’s priorities to help build on existing partnerships and seize new opportunities for collaboration,” he said.
The first paper had identified four key sectors – aerospace & defence, energy & natural resources, education & clean technology, the updated strategy paper is said to have a strong focus on emphasising the government’s role in facilitating services-based exports to India.
Key changes to the updated India Engagement Strategy include prioritisation of a new sister-State relationship with Rajasthan, greater recognition of the opportunities for state services exports in India, a reinvigorated platform of engagement comprising business missions and a new business education program. (AGENCIES)
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