The Chennai based international Chamber, ANZ India Business Chamber, launched its New South Wales Chapter at Sydney today. The launch assumes significance in the background of the Indo-Australian Trade Agreement, which is now under advanced discussion.

This event was held with the participation of the high dignitaries, The Hon. Mr. Geoff Lee, Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, NSW Government, Australia; Shri Sanjay Muluka, Acting Consul General, Indian Consulate General, Sydney and Prof. Patricia M. Davidson, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Wollongong, Australia.

While addressing the business community, The Hon Mr. Geoff Lee observed that India and Australia have a lot of similarities with a relationship that spans since the 1st World War. We fought together and now we are doing business together as friends. India is currently Australia’s 7th largest trading partner which we wish to encourage to continue to grow. At the moment there are 35000 Indian students studying in Australia creating some of Australia’s best citizens for the future.

Shri Sanjay Muluka said that India and Australia are building relationships and putting together a free trade agreement which looks like it will be one of the fastest free trade agreements ever. It will cover almost 90% of the tax lines and will be a big boost to our commercial partnership. It signifies an extremely positive relationship between our two countries.

Prof Patricia Davidson said that The University of Wollongong has a large population of Indian students focusing on finance, management and the health sciences. It has continued to maintain relationships with India during this covid period. The importance of the chamber is Paramount as it allows these Indian students to find role models as they are introduced into The Australian culture and society. The University of Wollongong is a global institution committed to a diverse educational system and welcomes all Indian students into its heart.

According to Mr. P. Santhosh, MD & CEO of ANZ India Business Chamber, “This is major milestone in the Chamber’s history and this will help us to facilitate more and more trade and investment opportunities in the Indo-Australian space, particularly at a time when there is a major shift in focus for Australian companies to look at business opportunities in India rather than investing in China”.

This is the second Chapter of the Chamber in Australia and the first Chapter was launched in the State of Victoria in February 2020.