Building closer business and investment ties with India - the AICC in Australia

Extracts from Annual Report to Australia India Chamber of Commerce AGM by Chair – Chris Mooney

National Model and National Industry Groups

Over the past twelve months, the Chamber has undergone a restructure moving away from a State based federated model and into a National model. This, in the view of the Board, was a necessary strategic move which significantly reduced the level of bureaucracy allowing for a sharper focus on newly established National Industry Groups. The Board identified that greater outcomes could be achieved if the Chamber drew upon the vast resources of its larger corporate members.

National Industry Groups are Working

A glowing example of what success looks like can be found in the industry vertical of critical minerals. Recently MinterEllison and Monash University combined to create a white paper. This paper has recently been presented at IMARC and to various political figures from both State and Federal Governments. I thank in particular Associate Professor Mohan Yellishetty from Monash University, David Morfessi, Director of International Trade and Estelle Scanlan, International Marketing Manager, MinterEllison, and David Whittle of Whittle-DG Pty Ltd.

The “How”, and the “Why” of India

When promoting bilateral trade, the Chamber seeks to teach “How" as well as “Why”. Many of the learnings are identified and developed at various events and workshops we involve ourselves in. A prime example was our business forum followed by a gala dinner to celebrate India's 75th year of independence held on 29th August 2022 at CENTREPIECE, in Melbourne. Both events I am pleased to report were a resounding success. The business forum addressed business opportunities in the sectors of Critical Minerals, Tech & Innovation, Defence and Education, whilst at the dinner, the AICC hosted in excess of 500 guests and included sporting and political luminaries from both State and Federal governments.

Highlights and Achievements

A business lunch to inaugurate the Defence & Security National Industry Group and celebrate Australia Day & India’s Republic Day with General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK CVO MC (Retd)

A gala dinner celebration marking the 75th anniversary of Indian independence and solidifying bilateral relations between Australia-India, with special guest Hon Don Farell, Minister for Trade. Other attending Ministers were Andrew Giles Immigration Minister, Victorian Treasurer Hon Tim Pallas, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, Leader of the Opposition Hon Peter Dutton and Shadow Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Hon Jason Wood. Highlights of the evening included an in-conversation with the world-renowned conductor, Maestro Zubin Mehta and former Australian Test Cricket Captain, Ricky Ponting

A virtual round table discussion regarding the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (‘CECA’) with former Prime Minister, Hon Tony Abbott AC

A joint celebration of Australia Day and India's Republic Day in Adelaide with then Minister for Finance, Hon Simon Birmingham

Hosting Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs

Hosting Mr. Piyush Goyal, Minister of Textiles, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

Hosting Mr. RK Singh, Minister for Power, New & Renewable Energy

Hosting Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister for Education

Celebrating and working on the trade deal

One of the other highlights of the year was no doubt a business luncheon with over 200 persons at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with Indian Commerce Minister Hon Piyush Goyal and the then Trade Minister for Australia, the Hon Dan Tehan. This event was staged to promote the signing of the Economic Co-operation and Trade Agreement between Australia and India. The Chamber was delighted to host a high-level visiting delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industries and sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the joint cooperation to promote the bilateral relationship. We thank Austrade for their strong support around this event.

Sincere Thanks

I would like to finish by thanking our valued members, without you we do not exist. Also, one of our key stakeholders the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been extremely supportive in all our activities, and I thank them for their continued support.

Finally, there are a number of AICC supporters around Australia that have given up their time to promote the AICC - our National Industry Groups Convenors, Mahadevan Shankar, Sandeep Khurana, Ben Apted, Mohan Yellishetty and David Morfessi. We are also formalising National representatives in each State, and we will make an announcement on all the State representatives early in the new year plus the AICC representatives based in India.

In addition, I would like to thank and recognise our hard-working volunteer board members: Daryl Koch - Deputy Chairman; Martin Artenstein – Treasurer; and Harish Rao - Executive Director. Special acknowledgement should be made of the highly valued support and advice of our AICC Patron, The Hon Ted Baillieu, former Premier of Victoria.

Chris J Mooney

Chairman