Panel discusses drivers of positive change

A high-powered panel discusses how to face challenges and opportunities for India and Australia

The Consulate General of India in association with Australia India institute (All) and Federation of Indian Assoc iations of Victoria (FIAV) recently o rgani sed a panel discussion o n t he topic India: Going Bryond Todt!)'• The discussion featured speakers from bus in ess, politics and creative industries talking about the challenges and oppo rrunities facing India and Indians in Australia in the coming decades. Prof Amirabh Martoo, Director, All; Mr Vasan Srinivasan, President, FlAV; Mr Ravi Bhatia, Pres ident, Australia India Business Cou ncil (AIB C); Mr H oward Ronaldson, Secretary, DBJ; and Ms Tara Rajkumar OAJVf, eminent classical dancer were th e panellists, with Dr SK Behera in the role of moderator.

As Consul General, Dr Behera has shmvn a keen interest in developing an empathetic, culturally a\vare understanding of India within Australia. By initiating this dialogne he sought a more nuanced understanding of w hat WOLLid work to create closer cooperation and multifaceted interactio n between India and Australia. The panellists were selected to pro vide an insight into the important drivers of change including growth, globalization, gove rnance and ctllmre.

According to Prof Amitabh Mattoo, the '4Ds' (d r ivers) of change are demography, demo cracy, deve lopment and diversity (dialogue and reconciliation), and he elaborated o n each, stating that they cottld be a source of g reat strength as well as p otentially a source of great weakness. "India has tbe yo1Lt1gest population in any leading economy, which can bear great dividends if it is trained, educated and skilled, and given the right values," said Prof Matroo.

"In India democracy did nor only survive, ir succeeded," added Prof i'viarroo while addressing a rapt audience. "Contrary to predictions, democracy has thl"ived in India ; ho,vever there are many pockets of depriv ation and instances of corruption that have also eroded the nation," he said. As for diversity, India n eeds to meet the challenge o f reconc iling diverse segments, be it the Maoist or the Separatists in Kashmir and I orrh East. "\Xlirh all rhe commonalities between lndia and Australia the time has now come for them to work rogerher in strategic partnership in all fields be it economy, energy security or to define the ne\v security archi tecture in t he As ia Pacific," stared Prof .Martoo.

Mr Howard R o nald so n stressed the importance of a strategic partnership witl1 India, saying that it is essential fo r the survival of Australia n economy " lt is now mandatory for Australia to engage wicb Asia particularly with countries like China and India," said Mr Ronaldson. He sr.aced that the Victorian government needs ro do something bigger and more significant i n tl1e education sector with India, ro achieve results.

All die other speakers echoed similar sentiments and discussed their perception and vision o f what is required to bring about changes. Mr Ra vi Bhatia offered statistical data of exports between lnclia and Australia, stating that the Indian IT industry provides resource augmentation to all major banks and contribmes to die productivity o f the Australian economy. He highlighted lndia's requirement of resources from Australia and urged Indians ro