Radio Brisvaani
His Excellency Manpreet Vohra, the Indian High Commissioner to Australia underlined the growing Australia-India trade and investment relationship. India News Australia participated as the media partner and was represented by its Chairman and Publisher Ram Mohan and Ashutosh Misra, along with Agastya Yeturi, India News cinematographer. The Summit was moderated by Jim Varghese AM, National Chair, AIBC Australia India Business Council.
Launching the Summit, the Springfield City Group Chairman Maha Sinnathamby rightly stated, “What binds us together is what we are all about today – and what binds us today will be the increasing trade opportunities and cultural sharing between Australia and India. Information and technology is one form of trade that will certainly fast track this relationship.”
Senator Paul Scarr emphasised that this burgeoning relationship was limitless including the global talent visa system and advocacy for India as the way forward. Federal MP for Oxley, Queensland Milton Dick strongly urged more action, more content, more dialogue between businesses to fast track this bilateral relationship, which was later seconded by HE Manpreet Vohra.
Charis Mullen State MP for Jordan, Queensland highlighted how locations such as Springfield can play a major role in facilitating the bilateral business and investment relationship. Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding reminded the delegates of the unique opportunities that Springfield and Ipswich offer for investors. Former Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and current Chancellor, University of Queensland Peter Varghese AO illuminated the importance of science and technology being at the forefront of this bilateral relationship, as highlighted in his India Economic Strategy to 2035.
India’s former Secretary (East) Ambassador Anil Wadhwa, the author of Australia Economic Strategy, drew attention to how India was simplifying the business environment for prospective investors. The Australia Economic Strategy has underlined joint opportunities, especially in the areas of cyber security, data analysis, cloud and fintech. He called for Australian and Indian policymakers to consider setting up a joint innovation fund.
HE Manpreet Vohra in his brief remark spoke about more business meetings and engagements to facilitate this bilateral relationship and flagged the possibility of a free trade agreement and discussions commencing shortly.
Ross Buchanan from the Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) very effectively articulated the benefits of setting up businesses in Queensland and in Springfield as well as the various incentives that the Queensland Government had in place for prospective businesses and investors.
In addition, C. P. Gurnani, CEO and Managing Director, Tech Mahindra and Girish Ramchandradas, President, Asia Pacific, Tata Consultancy Services, admired the visionary outlook that Indian IT companies bring to the table and noted their contribution to economies across the world. Jim Varghese shared the views and flagged that Australia can certainly play a pivotal role in setting up operations here and expanding globally.
In the session on Industry perspectives, Ted Burger, Senior Advisor Global Engagement, BCS laid emphasis on the need for changing mindsets of Australians about doing business with India – and reiterated that with the rise of Asia especially in IT, India remained central and well positioned in this relationship. Dianne Tipping, Chair, ECA and Dilip Chenoy, Secretary General, FICCI, both highlighted the immense trade opportunities between the two sides, especially the opportunities for manufacturing in India, Smart Cities, and Logistics. “COVID has changed everything, and most businesses have gone digital, which puts IT at the heart of any industry,” said Dilip Chenoy.
Jim Varghese, added that it was heartening that Austrade was addressing perceptions and driving an understanding of contemporary India in Australia as well as driving business and investment opportunities that Indian businesses have in Australia.
Deputy Chair of Springfield Bob Sharpless very eloquently presented to the audience the value proposition that Springfield offered especially to IT companies from India and Australia, and shared that Springfield was aiming to achieve a zero-net energy target by 2038 (produce as much energy it consumed). Ashok Mysore, IT Chapter Chair, AIBC, while moderating the session on strategies, highlighted the importance of technology and Indian companies’ contribution to the Australian and globally economy and growth.
This was followed by the last session covering future goals for Australian and Indian companies for growth featuring Vikram Singh, Country head, TCS; Sarah Adam-Gedge, Country Head, Wipro; Michael Horton, Executive Vice President, HCL; Andrew Growth, Senior Vice President and CEO, Australia and New Zealand and Industry head, Financial Services Infosys, Asia Pacific; and Jeff Ferdinand, Senior Vice President and Country Tech Mahindra. The session emphasised on the need for government and academic collaboration and the role of New Colombo Plan program in nurturing future leaders in the field. The session made a significant point about the lack of talent in Australia in IT and why growing business and trade collaboration in the sector is needed to address that gap.
In the post Summit interview with Ashutosh Misra, Editor in Chief, India News, Jim Varghese, Senator Paul Scarr and Bhanu Sud, COO, 3 Dot Digital agreed that the Summit was indeed a watershed in the history of Australia-India business and trade engagements which should encourage not only the tech giants but also small and medium business enterprises in both countries, through memorandums of understanding. They were in agreement that from here on Australia and India ties will grow deeper and more meaningful.
The Summit concluded with the closing remarks from the moderator Jim Varghese summarising the key points of the Summit, followed by the vote of thanks from Nik Senapati, President, AIBC Queensland Chapter.
