External Affairs Minister of India S.Jaishankar met the Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the Raisina @ Sydney Business Breakfast on Saturday, i.e 18th of February 2023. During the meeting, Mr. Anthony took Dr. Jaishankar on a tour of his residence and showed him all the important locations which were visible from his garden area.
Dr. Jaishankar addressed the audience at the Raisina@Sydney Business Breakfast prior to their meeting. He talked about the economy and the issue of COVID-19. He further said that they are targeting 7 percent of growth this year but are also expecting to improve in the coming five years. He is confident saying that it will definitely stay in the 7-9 percent range at least for a decade and a half. This can be seen today to be the same reflected in the investment climate both in the flow of FDI and FII as well as in the investments in which the government itself is leading the capital outlay in the budget of this year as added by him.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) along with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) of India organized the Raisina@Sydney Breakfast at the Intercontinental Hotel in Sydney Australia. This international mega event is bringing together and building momentum for the two foreign policies of the Indo-Pacific, along with its security and technology dialogues.
The Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) was signed between India and Australia on the 2nd of April 2022 and came into force on the 29th of December 2022. While talking about this agreement, Dr. Jaishnakar said that ECTA has a “good impact on trade”. He suggested that there should be an encouragement for greater investments that need to be focussed especially during the CEO forum meets or the Prime Minister and Trade Ministers’ visits.
Dr. Jaishankar further spoke about migration mobility and added that they have seen a very substantial movement of the talents of India to Australia. There are about a million students from India studying in Australia. He also said that they are welcoming the Australian Universitites in India.
It is not just about the Indian students who are coming to Australia but it is also about Australia and India working in collaboration to produce competative and skilled talents in India for the whole world as said by Dr. Jaishankar. He further added while addressing the audience that India has also overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic “quite strongly”.
