Geelong hosts high-level India business roundtable to boost bilateral ties

Melbourne, June 26 (Australia India News Newsdesk)

In a significant step towards enhancing bilateral cooperation, Dr Sushil Kumar, Consul General of India in Melbourne, recently attended the Geelong–India Business Roundtable Meeting, hosted by Cr Dr Stretch Kontelj OAM, Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong.

The event brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including representatives from Global Victoria, DFAT, the Australia India Business Council, the Australia India Chamber of Commerce, Deakin University, and several industry leaders. The discussions focused on exploring new avenues of collaboration between India and the Geelong region in key sectors such as agri-tech, education and skills, clean energy, tourism, advanced manufacturing, and innovation.

During the meeting, officials from Global Victoria presented the Victoria’s India Strategy, outlining a roadmap for deeper economic and cultural engagement with India. The presentation highlighted strategic initiatives to strengthen trade and investment flows and build enduring connections between the two economies.

Abhay Sinha, Managing Director of Care Essentials and winner of the 2023 Australian Exporter of the Year Award, shared his perspective on navigating the landscape of Australia–India trade and investment. He spoke about both the opportunities and hurdles in bilateral trade, stressing the importance of streamlining procedures and strengthening institutional ties to support exporters and investors.

The roundtable reaffirmed Geelong’s growing ambition to become a focal point for India–Australia cooperation, backed by strong engagement from local government, business networks, and educational institutions. The meeting also demonstrated India’s interest in deepening regional partnerships beyond major cities, particularly in innovation-led sectors.

With clear intent from both sides to build on this momentum, the Geelong–India Business Roundtable set the stage for a new chapter of regional economic diplomacy, helping shape a collaborative future grounded in shared growth and mutual benefit.