Meeting the local community in Sydney

the likes of you as of India, issues between the two countries. easy,” the External Affairs minister of India Dr S Jaishankar told his compatriots at a meet-and-greet at the Sydney marriot Hotel. job

As part of his visit to Australia, Minister Jaishankar met many federal ministers, and paid tributes at the Australian War Memorial, including a mention of the Indian-origin Private Nairn Singh Sailani in one of his many tweets during the trip.

Dr Jaishankar was in Australia for the 13th Foreign ministers’ Framework Dialogue with his Australian counterpart Senator Penny wong. Concluding his first day in Canberra, the Indian minister spent the morning with the Australian Armed Forces, his social media account showing him all kitted up for an army helicopter ride. Later, an equally significant engagement, this time on the hallowed turf of the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he went for a walkabout with Aussie cricket legend and Indophile Steve waugh.

Connecting with the local Indian community that evening, Dr Jaishankar reemphasised the importance which both countries – India and Australia –are giving to the bilateral relationship. The constant interaction of the top political leaders of the two countries in just six months is indicative of that momentum, he said.

He described the “two pivotal times” in the relationship as the 2014 visit of Pm Narendra modi, and the signing of the recent trade agreement between the two counties.

“Though the trade levels are about $27 billion, I am confident that this will increase strongly as the activities between the two countries have increased,” he said. “Education is one area where both countries are keen to see greater momentum. Australia has some of the best education facilities, and India has a young population keen to benefit from higher education -these are opportunities for both countries.”

He also touched upon the work being done for Indian qualifications to be accepted in Australia, and progress in the discussions on double taxation

Dr Jaishankar also shared the view that while the CoVID outbreak, especially the Delta variant, was traumatic for people in India, it also was an opportunity for learning. “Post CoVID, medical facilities have been ramped up in India, and some of the earlier initiatives of the modi government such as encouraging people to open bank accounts helped with relief payments reaching out to millions,” he observed.

He confirmed that India’s exports are growing at their fastest rate ever, whereas other nations are still trying to get to their pre-CoVID growth rates.

“At the end of the day, the relationship between two countries is about the connection between their people,” the minister concluded, urging all to be effective ambassadors of their home country here in Australia.

BY RAJNI ANAND LUTHRA

Sonu Bhaskar, MD PhD PHF FANA, physician-scientist and academic neurologist, has been named in this year’s 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian Australians list. This honour comes close on the heels of another prestigious win only weeks ago, this time for Global Talent, in the 2022 Global Australian Awards.

As Director of the Global Health Neurology Lab in Sydney, Dr Bhaskar launched the world’s first brain clot biobank, a new initiative in the prevention and treatment of strokes. It has won him international acclaim.

“The 40 Under 40 recognition, I believe, is a recognition of all migrants, whatever backgrounds they may come from,” he told Indian Link. “It shows we are making a small but meaningful impact on the larger community.”

His own work with the NSW Brain Clot Bank is ‘small’ in no measure, already creating new inroads in stroke research.

Describing this work, he explained, “A stroke is caused by a blood clot that blocks the flow of blood to the brain. In some instances, despite testing, the cause of a stroke cannot be determined. Such strokes are called ‘cryptogenic’ strokes. Occurring 30 to 40 percent of the time, these strokes result in significant mobility and morbidity issues. My scientific curiosity suggested to me that we should study the clots retrieved from stroke patients, to find answers. When I presented this work at an international conference at Oslo, the feedback was phenomenal.”