Vic Premier leads largest ever trade mission to India

extremely well placed to take advantage of growth in global markets, particularly Asia”.

The trade mission will include ten major sectors of the Victorian economy including automotive, aviation and aerospace, cleantech, education, food and beverage, ICT, life sciences, professional services, sustainable urban design and tourism.

engage with businesses in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Pune from 21 to 26 February.

International Student Welcome Desk at Melbourne Airport

Premier Ted Baillieu headed out to India on 20 Feb with Victoria’s largest-ever trade mission to India. He took with him more than 220 Victorian companies to boost Victoria’s two-way trade and investment partnership with Indian businesses and the Indian community.

Upon hi sdeparture Mr Baillieu said this trade mission would focus on Victoria’s strengths to generate more jobs for Victorians and substantial new export opportunities and investment for Victorian businesses.

“The program will also build on the strengths of the growing Indian community based in Victoria to further broaden cultural ties through tourism, film, education, sport and other linkages,” Mr Baillieu added.

“India’s rapid economic expansion – which saw its GDP grow by 8.5 per cent in 2010-11 – offers significant opportunities to grow Victoria’s trade and investment partnerships with India. Victoria is not waiting, but doing everything in its power to capitalise on new opportunities in high growth markets, particularly India and China. There is extraordinary growth occurring and Victoria is moving quickly”.

“This is part of the Coalition Government’s economic strategy which has a major focus on trade engagement and expansion into new markets to create jobs and investment,” he added. “Victoria –with its diverse economic strengths and strong multicultural base – is

Senior economic ministers will also attend the trade mission including Minister for Innovation, Services & Small Business and Tourism & Major Events, Louise Asher, Minister for Manufacturing, Exports & Trade, Richard DallaRiva, and Minister for Technology and for the Aviation Industry, Gordon Rich-Phillips.

“More than 300 company and institutional leaders will be a part of this trade mission,” Mr Baillieu said.

“They are leaders and innovators in their respective fields and about two-thirds of them will be discovering India as a new market for the first time.”

This mission will build on the successful trade mission to India involving 60 companies that was led in April this year by Victoria’s Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, Louise Asher. That trade mission is estimated to have generated more than $63 million in new exports, $19 million in capital investment and more than 500 jobs in Victoria.

The Super Trade Mission will

The Victorian Coalition Government has secured the future of the International Student Welcome Desk at Melbourne Airport, committing $150,000 over three years as part of a package to support one of Victoria’s most competitive strengths.

Premier Ted Baillieu announced the commitment on 20 Feb prior to his departure to India with Victoria’s largest-ever trade mission.

Mr Baillieu said the Welcome Desk complemented a range of other Coalition Governmentfunded services including the 24hour International Student Care Service, Study Melbourne website, tailored information days and the Culture Card program.

“We are world leaders in the international student market, and that is why our education service providers are strongly represented in the Super Trade Mission delegation,” Mr Baillieu said.

“For the first time the entire Victorian post-school public education sector will be together in India, including six Vice Chancellors and numerous TAFE chief executives.”

International education is

Victoria’s largest services export, contributing $4.8 billion to the state’s economy each year and responsible for an estimated 50,000 Victorian jobs. More than 160,000 international students from 165 countries were enrolled in Victorian education institutions by the end of November 2011.

London-based organisation QS recently announced its first global grading of major international student cities with Melbourne ranked fourth only to Paris, London and Boston.

The International Student Welcome Desk is staffed by a team of volunteers from a range of backgrounds, who provide advice and free welcome packs to arriving students. It is now open at Melbourne Airport’s international arrivals hall until 26 February and will operate again during July in the lead-up to semester two. The Coalition Government is a major partner in the Student Welcome Desk along with the City of Melbourne and Melbourne Airport.

The $150,000 funding is part of a $2 million package provided under the Government’s Victoria: Leader in Learning initiative announced in May last year, which is aimed at driving further productivity for the state’s international education sector and highlights the extensive support and outreach programs available to international students who study, live and work in Victoria.