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PM Modi outlines potential for Australian opportunity in India

After a full day of activities - addressing the Australian parliament, meeting witb business leaders - the popular Indian Prime Minister Narendra :Modi was whisked co the hallowed grounds of the iconic 161 - yearold Melbourne Cricket Ground (tvfCG)

There he was joined by Australian Prime M inister Tony Abbott as well as cricketing legends from both India and Australia, including Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and V.V.S. Laxman, Steve Waug h , Gle nn McGrath and Alan Border, for a tout of the turf.

Later, at the gala dinner hosted 11 y PM Abbott, Prime i\liinister l\fodi sought Australia's assistance in acce lerating lnclia's urbanisation process.

"A successful India will be a vast opportunity and a force o f good for the world. We look forward to closer parrnership with friends l ike Australia," Modi said at the dinner.

" lnd ia is experienci ng urbanisation at a rapid pace Studies suggest that by 20 3 1, 11 per cent of the world's urban populatio n might be in Indian cities "

He added that India already has more than SO cities with a p o pL1lation of o v er one million. ' 'U rbanisation can be an enormous oppottunity," Prime i\liinister Modi s aid.

He spoke of his plans to build 100 smart cities, revive heritage cities, bu.i.l d modern solid waste management and waste water treaanent systems in 500 cities, and clean up the cou n tr y's rivers.

"This is part of our larger vis io n of a sustainab le future for our countr y, and rransforming the quali ty of life of our peop le in cities and villages alike," the Prime i\liin ister said He hoped tbat India coul d learn from A ustralia's experie nce and benefit from its expertise and noted that Melbourne is regarded as rhe best city i11 the world to liv e in.

Modi $aid he wanted to bu.i.l d a future in which ev er y Indian can say tbat his life has improved and his environment has become better.

'1 am confident rhat we will achieve it with the support of the people of Inclia, and th rough tbe talent and energ y o f 800 million yourh, below the age of 3 5 years," he said

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(It is) a generation that is eager for change and committed to work for it ," the Prime i\liinister added.

Modi also s tressed oo the importance of relationships between people.

" One thing we all agree on. The bonds between the countries are made strong b y the jo ined hands of o ur peop le."

The Prime i\liinister also areas too. "We have decided ro collaborate on a spo rts univ ers ity in India," he revealed " Our exchanges in sports, tourism , education and culture are g reat sources of streng th for our relationship," he stated. The Prime Minister thanked his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott for being " truly gene ro u s with your hospitality and warmth". spoke about the love for cricket that both India and Australia share "No business is serious enough t o keep an Australian and an Indian from discu ssing this great game," be said

P Jvl Modi concluded, " M y m em orable visit ro Australia ends toni g ht, but a new journe y of our relationship has begun."

He recounted lndia's glorious cricket triumph at the MCG in the Champions Trophy in 1985 and said rha t the Ground woul d b e a deserving venue for the final of tbe Cricket Wo rld Cup in 2015

"I bope that om· t\vo team s will play that match," Mocli said.

The Prime Minister also said that India can learn from Australia's famous sporting skills in other