India features highly in NSW priorities

Befitting a leading business organisation, the 2009 Premier’s Asia Business dinner was conducted in a professional manner at Four Seasons hotel in Sydney. With a who’s who of the Asian business community networking, the key note speaker, the Premier of NSW Nathan Rees, spoke eloquently about the growing engagement between NSW and Asia. While the 400 plus audience listened to the achievements of the NSW Government in their engagement with Asia, business leaders were given the chance to exchange business cards and discuss issues relating to the global financial crisis amongst themselves.

The Chairman of the NSW Asia Business Council Henry Tsang, welcoming the attendees stressed on the need of this council in promoting better ties between Australia’s most prosperous state and the growing economies of Asia. Continuing the theme, Premier Rees exalted the virtues of the state of New South Wales with a steady property market and the unemployment rate being (at that time) one of the lowest in Australia. He further repeated the statement from Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens, that the current world economic recovery will be led by Asia. “Even the IMF has released its latest growth forecasts confirming that India will grow between 5.6 – 6.4% in the next year. China’s growth is estimated to be between 7.5 – 9%,” the Premier added.

Premier Rees while pointing out China’s strategic role in the development of NSW also pointed out India’s growing trade with NSW.

“India currently is our 14th largest trading partner and this is increasing rapidly. In 08 / 09 trade between NSW and India grew by 29%”.

“I am particularly excited by the opening of a NSW office in India to better facilitate trade between the two of us. I must add that while Queensland took 12 months to open an India office, we did it in less than half that time,” he said, taking a swipe at our neighbours in the north.

Prominent Indian leaders such as Neville Roach, Arun Jagatramka from Gurajat NRE, Dr Harinath from Cricket NSW, Sheba Nandkeolyar from Multicultural Connexions, Rohitas Bhatta from AIBC were present, flying the banner for the local Australian Indian community.

Pawan Luthra