IS eran I

PM Modi's highly anticipated visit to Melbourne was a grand success for the business community

Drawing attention to his economic agenda, Prime Ministe r Modi's one- day trip to Melbourne was set to cast a pos itive influence on the advancement of bil ateral ties and promotion of mutual trust between i\ustralian and Indian businesses

Dm·ing his vi sit the Indian Prim e l\llinster met CEOs of Australia's top indu stry companies including BHP Billiton Linfox, Hancock Prospecting Group and Visy lndustries.

Accompanying PM i\fodi were CEOs from leading Indian industry organisations including Gautam Adani of the Aclani Group, Anand Mahindra of multinarfonal automobile manufacturers Mahindra & Mahindra, Vishal Sik.ka of Infosys Ltd and Shashi Ruia. chairman of Essar Group.

V ic torian Gove rnor A.lex

Chernov hosted the round table conference at bis residence wh ere the Indian PM chose to address the .leaders in Hindi whicb was tra nslated into E nglish for everyone's benefit.

The forum comprised of business leaders, d elegates from India, journalists and m embers of the Australia. India Business Council (AIBC).

Arnirabb Mattoo, Director of the Australia India lnscimce, was the moderator of the round table event The Victo rian Governor lacer d escribed Australia India

Instin1te as the primary credible think- tank in this country on Australia India relations hi ps.

Du.ring the private event, Treasurer J oe Hockey co mmented briefly o n how, along with minin g, educatio n and the financial sector, it is paramount to focus on smal.l and m edium size emerprise.

According to i\fr Hockey the business- to-business oppomulities will play a key role in helping to further the trade relationship between lndia and Australia.

The business leaders unanimously acknowledged the extraordinary growtli tliac India is poised co e"-perience This will create several opportunities for Australian s to engage w ith India wh ilst forgi ng a bond based on common strategic interests, trade and economic ou tlook.

Responding to tlie suggestio n s put forward to hin1, tlie Indian Prime Jvlinister said he was personally committed to looking a t environm entally- friendly ways of furtlie ring d evelopment.

According to Modi, India requires a substanti al amount of energy to con tinue its growth. Wit.Ii tl1e push co make India a gasbased econom y, any package that combined these t\vo sectors wo uld be of interest to] ndia

Praising the V icrorian Government for its initiatives in promoting ed ucation, the lndian Pcime Ivlitlister shared his two main areas of focus in the educatio n se cto r. O n e was co encourage young people from India an d Australia to collaborate and conduct b etter quality research , and the o tlier was for selec ted schools from both countries co coordinate wit.Ii ea.ch otl1e r, through student exchanges, co create q uality education opportt1ni ties.

The PM also drew attention to the tourism sector and i ts tre m end ous possibilities. According co Modi, India has a l o ng coastline and the required clientele co sec up a su ccessful business in cruises. He invite d people to invest in developing touris m infrastruc ture i n India and in finding new aven ues to dev elop relarionsllips tbrough tourism.

According to the PM a large number of Indian students have come to smdy in Au stralia and have belped co create a better understandi ng of India am ongst the common man in Australia. Thi s people-to- people contact has generated confidence an d as a result Australians are more willing to take cisks by investing in an d trading witb India.

Prime i\fo1.ister Modi concluded his address by inviting Austr alians to explore the many possibilities in lnclia and renlinded them of his promise co implem ent, very soon, a vi sa on arrival service fo r all Australians - including people making business tri ps to India