Canberra: India’s High Commissioner to Australia Nagesh Singh held a meeting with New South Wales Premier Chris Minns on Monday, with discussions focussed on strengthening the partnership, including cooperation in trade, investment, education, innovation and people-to-people ties.
The meeting was held ahead of Minns’ travel to India from August 31 to September 3 – his first overseas visit after assuming office as New South Wales Premier.
In a post on X, the High Commission of India in Australia stated, “Discussions focused on further strengthening the India–NSW partnership, including cooperation in trade, investment, education, innovation and people-to-people ties.”
The NSW Premier and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey will lead an official delegation to India from August 31 to September 3 to strengthen the state’s cultural, education and economic ties with India. Minns announced the visit at an event in Sydney marking India’s 80th Independence Day.
According to the statement released by the New South Wales government, the four-day visit to New Delhi and Mumbai will focus on high-level business and government engagements aimed at strengthening economic ties, attracting investment and creating new opportunities for NSW, along with community and cultural events that will deepen ties with India.
In 2024–25, NSW and India traded $6.87 billion worth of goods, making India one of NSW’s most important trading partners and a priority market for future growth. The India-NSW relationship is not limited to trade. In the year to March 2026, 174,000 Indian visitors travelled to NSW, spent around $600 million and stayed 8.5 million nights. Over 28,000 Indian students study in NSW, making India one of the state’s largest and most important international education markets.
During the visit, the mission will focus on sectors where NSW has a competitive advantage, including education, research and innovation, agri-food, clean energy, critical minerals, technology, tourism and advanced industries. It will create new opportunities for NSW exporters, attract investment and support jobs and economic growth. The visit will also build on NSW’s sister-state relationship with Maharashtra, according to the official statement.
Minns described NSW as one of the most successful multicultural societies in the world and said that the Indian community is a big part of that success. Minns said that his first overseas visit as NSW Premier to India demonstrates the importance of the relationship.
“People have come to NSW from India, worked hard, built businesses, raised families and contributed to communities right across our state. India is one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and an increasingly important partner for NSW. We want more trade, more investment, more tourists and more opportunities for NSW businesses. I’m proud that my first overseas visit as Premier will be to India. It reflects the importance of the relationship and the enormous contribution the Indian community makes to NSW,” he said.
Daniel Mookhey, who will accompany Minns during his visit, said, “India is one of the world’s fastest-growing global economies and one of the most important to the people of New South Wales. Beyond a trade relationship valued in the billions of dollars, education provides a lasting and rewarding bond. By building our economic, education and innovation ties, we can support more NSW exporters, attract investment and create long-term opportunities for Australian businesses and families.”
(IANS)
