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Media Release

Appointment to Australian-India Council Board

http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2015/jb_mr_150609.aspx?ministerid=4

 

Media Release

Australian Writers To Light Up Jaipur Literature Festival

Celebrated author Christos Tsiolkas will join a compelling line-up of Australian writers taking part in the 2015 Jaipur Literature Festival this week.

One of Australia’s leading contemporary writers, Tsiolkas has won several literary prizes, including the Commonwealth Writers Award and the New South Wales Premier’s Award.

Award-winning poet Ali Cobby Eckerman, Melbourne illustrator Mandy Ord and indigenous writer Lionel Fogarty will also take part in the festival.

Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Mr Patrick Suckling, welcomed the talented and exciting contingent of Australian writers at Jaipur in 2015.

“Tsiolkas is a renowned author who paints a vivid portrait of contemporary Australia,” Mr Suckling said.

“The Jaipur Literature Festival is recognised as one of the world’s leading festivals of books and ideas, and I’m very glad that Australian voices will have pride of place.”

“Literature is a wonderful medium for building understanding between two cultures, and helps audiences gain a deeper appreciation of Australia today – including our joys, our anxieties, and our ambitions for the future”

Tsiolkas will also travel to Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai.

The Australian Government is a strong supporter of greater engagement between Australian and Indian writers. A delegation of leading Australian publishers sponsored by the Australia Council for the Arts is also taking part in the Jaipur Bookmark publishing forum.

Tsiolkas is being sponsored by the Australia India Council, Cobby Eckerman and Fogarty by the Australia Council, and Ord by the Australia Council and the Word Alliance.

Media Release 

Australia’s Trade Minister Meets Chief Minister Fadnavis

Australia’s Trade and Investment Minister, The Hon. Andrew Robb AO, MP today met the Chief Minister of Maharasthra, the Hon. Devendra Fadnavis, to discuss opportunities to boost trade and investment links between Maharashtra and Australia.

Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Mr Patrick Suckling, said “Maharashtra is one of the priority Indian states for Australia’s engagement. Maharashtra has many attributes that appeal to Australian business. It’s India’s largest state economy, the country’s financial and business capital, and home to some of India’s leading educational and research institutions.”

“As a forward-looking and progressive state, we see tremendous potential for doing more business with Maharashtra,” Mr Suckling added.

Mr Robb and Chief Minister Fadnavis discussed collaboration in infrastructure, financial services, urban development, agribusiness, water management and other areas.

The Minister met key business leaders, including Mr Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries, and Mr Natarajan Chandrasekaran, CEO, Tata Consultancy Services.

He hosted a Match Australia networking lunch in Mumbai and invited Indian business leaders to participate in the Match Australia International Sports Business Program during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Mr Robb joined Chef Adam D'Sylva in Celebrate Australia, an Australian food and wine promotion event and also participated in a networking reception for Australian alumni based in India.

The Minister is leading Australia’s largest ever trade mission to India. As part of ‘Australia Business Week in India’, more than 450 delegates from leading Australian companies and institutions are meeting their Indian counterparts to explore business opportunities.

Media release

Robb: Australia India trade ties closer than ever

16 January 2015

Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb today said Australia and India were on the cusp of a new dawn in their commercial relationship as he officially wrapped up Australia Business Week in India (ABWI), a week-long roadshow designed to boost trade and investment between the two countries.

"There is something special going on in India. The enormous vision of Prime Minister Modi has excited many people. Australia is looking forward to being a part of this very important period in India's re-emergence as a significant power," Mr Robb said.

Mr Robb had a series of high-level government meetings including with Prime Minister Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and a number of other senior ministers.

He has been leading a trade mission to India of more than 450 Australian business leaders, including Rio Tinto chief Sam Walsh, Woodside CEO Peter Coleman and Hancock Prospecting chair Gina Rinehart. ABWI visited eight cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh and Kolkata.

"This high-level delegation has shown the Indian business community that Australians are willing, as we would say, to put skin in the game," Mr Robb said.

"This visit has been an important step towards unlocking the vast untapped potential in the relationship between our countries.

"We have seen a number of deals this week in a variety of sectors building the business bonds between Australia and India," he said.

This has included agreements between Woodside and the Adani Group on LNG supply, Wollongong University and Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University on mining excellence, the National Australia Bank and the State Bank of India and the SAE Institute and Reliance Media in the film sector.

Mr Robb used the visit to meet a number of Indian business leaders, including the Adani Group’s Gautum Adani, Mukesh Ambani, from Reliance Industries, and Tata Consulting chief Natarajan Chandrasekaran. He also welcomed Mr Walsh as Australian co-chair and Mr Adani as the Indian co-chair of a revitalised Australia India CEO Forum.

"Our top business leaders will be critical to the success of this relationship. I'm confident they're up to the task of building trade and investment, which will create jobs and increase prosperity for the people of our countries," Mr Robb said.

Mr Robb welcomed the strong reiteration from Prime Minister Modi of his commitment to finalising a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement by the end of this year.

"I will keep coming back to India to ensure we get our negotiations over the line this year. This is a key priority for both our Prime Ministers," he said.

During ABWI, Mr Robb attended Gala Receptions in both Delhi and Mumbai showcasing the best of Australian tourism and premium food and wine.

He also attended Vibrant Gujarat 2015 and the CII Australia-India Business Summit and the CII Global Partnership Summit.

 

Media Release

Australia keeps the scoreboard ticking for Indian tourist arrivals

Cricket fever is set to grip India and host country Australia as the national teams gear up to challenge each other in a series of thrilling games starting with the Border - Gavaskar Test Series in December, the ODI Tri-Series with England in January 2015. The two countries are also slated to compete with the world’s best teams for the prestigious ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 starting February 14’ 2015, being co-hosted by Australia. Hosting an impressive line-up of matches including absolute crackers like the Boxing Day test match at the MCG, and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 opener between India and Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval, destination Australia is ready to take its place in the spotlight.

To leverage the attention and viewership that these sporting events are slated to receive in India, Tourism Australia has planned a robust integrated media campaign, to increase visibility for the country as a tourism destination. Beyond the large number of Indian fans anticipated to travel to watch the games, the media opportunities provided by the cricket tournaments are expected to have a halo effect to encourage and drive future travel in to Australia. Strategic airline and travel agent associates will supplement the appealing imagery and brand content advertised by providing a strong call-to-action and attractive packages for potential travellers to book their holiday.

Some key initiatives planned by Tourism Australia include:

Content Integration with Star Sports - Complementing the television commercials on the network and adding some light moments to hard core cricket commentary, Star Sports, the official broadcaster of matches will air a series of vignettes with glimpses of the best of Australia experiences in each city featuring the cheerful sports anchor, Gautam Bhimani.

Advocacy by Harsha Bhogle - In the role of an advocate, reputed Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle, will indulge in leisure activities to showcase to the dedicated followers of his owned social media channels.

Media famils - To augment the media share-of-voice of the destination, starting earlier this year, select consumer mainline publications including prominent travel publications have been hosted to Australia to participate, experience and report widely on the gamut of tourism experiences that travellers can undertake during their visit to Australia.

Accredited media collaboration - To continue the momentum of generating tourism driven conversations on Australia through media coverage, Tourism Australia will team up with broadcast and print news mediums covering the games to include destination content in their coverage.

Business Events familiarisation - In partnership with Convention Bureaus, collaborations are also on with mid to large sized corporate entities to showcase the destination to them and attract their incentive travel business to Australia. Select representatives of corporate companies with a potential to host large scale Business Events in to Australia will be invited on an exclusive itinerary, in association with Business Events Sydney, to showcase the destination, and watch the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup at the hallowed Sydney Cricket Ground.

Travel trade familiarisation - Senior management of leisure travel companies will also be hosted, in association with Tourism Victoria, to experience the destination and the lifetime opportunity to watch the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 finals at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, to encourage them to step up their sales of Australian holidays.

Commenting on the promotion plans, Michael Newcombe, Regional General Manager, S/ SEA & Gulf Countries, Tourism Australia said, ‘There is plenty cricket action lined up from December till March in Australia and this is a great boost to our media activities in market. It is fantastic to have a platform where we have the attention of our target audience to advocate destination highlights to them and entice them to travel to Australia. The passion for cricket in India is unparalleled and we see this as an opportunity for our visitor arrival graph to soar higher. Our activities around the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 reinforces Tourism Australia’s commitment and strategy of leveraging and highlighting major events in Australia.’
 

Visitor arrivals into Australia from India have been on a steady ascend. There were 14,200 visitors from India during September 2014, bringing the total for the nine months to September to 140,400, an increase of 17.8 per cent relative to the same period previous year.For more information visit www.australia.com | www.facebook.com/seeaustralia

For further information, please contact Perfect Relations:
Tushna Govekar | [email protected] | +91 9819934496
Prerana Shah-Fernandes | [email protected] | +91 9619152730

Joint Press Statement

THE HON. TONY ABBOTT MP, PRIME MINISTER
MR. NARENDRA MODI, PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, paid an official visit to Australia from 16-18 November 2014, following the G20 Summit, as the guest of Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Prime Minister Modi held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Abbott, addressed a joint sitting of both houses of the Parliament (the first time an Indian prime minister has done so) and met the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Leader of the Opposition in Canberra. He also visited Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, where he met political leaders, academics, businesspeople and sporting figures and addressed members of the Australian Indian community. He visited research, cultural and historic institutions. A number of agreements were signed and new initiatives launched.

For the first time, Australian and Indian Prime Ministers have made reciprocal visits in the same year, underscoring the growing depth of the Australia-India strategic partnership and building on converging interests, shared values and common democratic institutions.

Prime Minister Abbott and Prime Minister Modi recognised that the partnership has tremendous room for growth and agreed to unlock the vast potential of the economic relationship, especially in priority areas such as resources, education, skills, agriculture, infrastructure, investments, financial services and health.

They directed that an equitable, balanced, mutually beneficial and high quality Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement be brought to an early conclusion to realise the potential of commercial relations. The next round of negotiations will be held in December. The two Prime Ministers hoped for better market access for good and services. They expressed satisfaction at the increase in investment while recognising the tremendous untapped potential in both directions. Indian investment in the resource sector in Australia promises to create jobs and value for the Australian economy just as Australian investment in cold chain storage, energy, infrastructure and other sectors can do for the Indian economy.

Strong business links are critical. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abbott reconstituted the Australia-India CEO Forum, and will shortly appoint new co-chairs. A delegation of Indian CEOs also visited Australia. Australian Business Week in India will be held in several cities in January 2015, with Trade and Investment Minister Robb bringing a 300-strong business delegation to showcase Australian capabilities in a wide range of sectors. India will hold a Make in India event in Australia in 2015 and organise shows in gems and jewellery, engineering and pharmaceuticals to showcase India’s manufacturing capabilities.

Energy is a central pillar of the economic relationship. Prime Minister Abbott and Prime Minister Modi agreed to expedite approvals for key mining investment projects. They agreed to cooperate on clean coal technologies and welcomed the intention to explore opportunities for partnership between Australian institutions and the Indian School of Mines in Dhanbad. They agreed to expedite progress towards early conclusion of the administrative arrangements to implement the Civil Nuclear Agreement signed in September. Australian supply of uranium in coming years will enhance India’s energy security.

Australia and India are committed to working together to combat terrorism and other transnational crimes. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abbott agreed that the existing Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism would be renamed to cover other transnational crimes, including on-going cooperation on illegal migration. They witnessed the signing of an Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and a Counter-Narcotics MoU.

They noted the conclusion of a new Framework for Security Cooperation to guide closer bilateral collaboration across the security spectrum, including in defence, counter-terrorism, cyber policy, disarmament and non-proliferation and maritime security. The Framework demonstrates the unshakeable resolve of the two countries in combating and defeating terrorism, including the threat posed by foreign fighters joining extremist groups.

Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abbott decided to extend defence cooperation to cover research, development and industry engagement. They agreed to hold regular meetings at the level of the Defence Minister, conduct regular maritime exercises and convene regular Navy to Navy, Air Force to Air Force and Army to Army staff talks.

They recalled the time spent together at the Australian War Memorial and agreed to strengthen efforts to commemorate the shared military history, including through the WWI centenary. They welcomed the cooperation between the two national broadcasters, Prasar Bharati and the ABC, to co-produce a film on Gallipoli.

Australia and India are working together more closely to build a safe and prosperous region, including through key regional forums such as the East Asia Summit. Both countries value their engagement with ASEAN, are strongly committed to building up the Indian Ocean Rim Association, and support regional efforts to create stronger humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities, combat malaria and boost regional trade, including through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

People-to-people links are transforming the relationship. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minster Abbott welcomed the signing of a Social Security Agreement, which will enhance two-way mobility and lower business costs. They welcomed the introduction of measures to facilitate easier travel and witnessed the signing of an MoU on Tourism, which will promote continued strong growth in an industry vital to both countries. India will hold a Tourism Week in Australia in 2015. Negotiations on an Audio-visual Co-production Agreement are progressing well, with the aim of boosting links between the dynamic film industries.

Educational links are deep and strong. The Prime Ministers welcomed cooperation between Australian and Indian universities and in particular joint PhD programmes to encourage research. They announced collaboration on rejuvenating the Ganga River. They welcomed two-way exchanges and cooperation in river basin planning under the water partnership and a new program of joint research on agricultural water management.

Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abbott agreed the two countries would cooperate in India’s efforts to strengthen its sporting capabilities, including through the private sector and in establishing a world-class Sports University. They welcomed the signing of an MoU on Arts and Culture, which will create a framework for deeper cultural exchanges. A Festival of India will be held in Australia in 2015 to showcase the dynamism and diversity of contemporary Indian culture.

Prime Minister Modi renewed his invitation to Prime Minister Abbott to visit India again at his convenience. They agreed that high-level visits played a key role in enhancing the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Canberra, 18 November 2014

Media Release

The Hon Michael Keenan MP
Minister for Justice
 

18 November 2014

Australia and India strengthen international crime cooperation ties

Today I was pleased to sign a Prisoner Transfer Agreement between Australia and India as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Counter Narcotics Trafficking and Developing Police Cooperation.

Both the Agreement and the MOU will further bolster the strong law enforcement cooperation relationship between Australia and India, and the signing of these instruments highlights this Government’s commitment to further expand and strengthen our partnerships.

The interconnected nature of the world today has created a borderless criminal threat environment.

The MOU will enable the Australian Federal Police and India’s Narcotics Control Bureau to cooperate in training personnel and exchanging specialists and experts in the field of narcotics control.

The MOU will support both countries in detecting and disrupting organised criminal groups that seek to import illegal substances, including precursors to manufacture drugs.

The Prisoner Transfer Agreement is important given the nature of transnational organised crime means that it is increasingly common for criminals to be convicted and sentenced in foreign countries.

This Agreement will enable Australian prisoners in India to apply to serve the remaining part of their sentence in Australia, and vice versa for Indian prisoners.

Criminal networks that operate with little regard for national boundaries are a global concern and a significant law enforcement challenge we all share.
Close cooperation to fight transnational crime with our international allies is paramount for safety and security globally.

Media contact: Emily Broadbent 0400 390 008
 

Media Release

10 November 2014

Minister leads Australia's largest skills delegation to India

Australian Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane is leading the largest ever Australian skills delegation to India to encourage greater collaboration between the two nations.

Minister Macfarlane said more than 100 representatives from across the industry and training sector were travelling with him to build new connections.
“Australia wants to further enhance our global partnerships on skills and training and this delegation has the experience and expertise to help achieve this goal,” Minister Macfarlane said.

Minister Macfarlane will today deliver a major speech to the Indian Industry’s Global Skills Summit in Mumbai and host a business roundtable. Tomorrow he will deliver the keynote address to the third India Australia Skills Conference – Skills for Better Business.

Minister Macfarlane will also launch an innovative vocational education and training pilot programme to be trialled in India over the next 12 months.
The programme will be delivered by Australian registered training providers working with either industry, Indian training providers or governments. The courses will be delivered under the Australia Future Unlimited brand.

“India needs thousands of additional trainers and assessors as it strives to skill 500 million people by 2022 and Australia is a nation with training expertise,” Minister Macfarlane said.

“The Governments of both countries are encouraging skills cooperation and laying the foundation for greater collaboration and development of commercial opportunities between Australian and Indian industry and training providers.”

A roundtable Minister Macfarlane will host today will examine opportunities for upskilling the Indian resources and energy sector labour force, as well as collaboration on training models for large and small business.

During his visit, Minister Macfarlane will meet his resources and energy, and science and technology counterparts in the Indian Government.

Media contact: Mr Macfarlane’s office +61 2 6277 7070
 

Media Release

7 October 2014

Media Release from the Office of Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon Julie Bishop MP: Grants showcase Australian excellence in India

I am pleased to announce that thirteen innovative projects profiling Australian expertise and fostering deeper people-to-people and institutional links with India will be supported through this year’s Australia-India Council (AIC) grants program.

The AIC’s grants, totalling over $565,000, will support new partnerships between Australian and Indian universities, professional bodies, private sector organisations and arts communities in areas of strong mutual interest and where the bilateral relationship has the greatest capacity to grow.

Read more: http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2014/jb_mr_141007.aspx

Media Release

23 September 2014

Australia's Group of Eight Universities make Global Top 100

Australian universities have again been rated among the best in the world, with eight Australian institutions making the global top 100 – and four making the top 50 – of the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings for 2014.

The eight universities are:

• Australian National University
• The University of Melbourne
• The University of Sydney
• The University of Queensland
• The University of New South Wales
• Monash University
• The University of Western Australia
• The University of Adelaide

The Australian High Commissioner to India, Patrick Suckling, said the rankings demonstrated that Australian higher education institutions were excellent choices for Indian students. Read more: http://www.india.embassy.gov.au/ndli/pa3214.html

Media Release

4 September 2014

Prime Minister's Press Release

Strengthening educational ties between India and Australia

India will participate in the New Colombo Plan when it expands across the Indo-Pacific region in 2015.

The New Colombo Plan will build on our already strong education links with India.

The New Colombo Plan will complement the Indian Government’s Connect to India initiative which funds five Indian universities to each host at least 30 international students.

India is our second largest source of international students with more than 30,000 Indians granted visas to study in Australia in 2013-14.

Under the New Colombo Plan we want to increase understanding and knowledge of our region and ensure a more Asia-aware Australian workforce for the future.

To further educational ties, a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Technical Vocational Education and Training has been signed between the National Skills Development Corporation of India and the Australian Department of Industry.

And the Australian Government will provide a further $3 million in funding for Melbourne University’s Australia India Institute – Australia’s only national centre of research and analysis on India.

Since its establishment in 2008, the Institute has played an important role in expanding understanding of the bilateral relationship.

Its publications and activities have raised awareness of India among Australian decision makers, and have helped to change perceptions about Australia in India.

I welcome the Institute’s plans to open its first node in India in early 2015, supported by the University of Melbourne.

The work of the Institute complements the New Colombo Plan, by providing Australian researchers, academics and students with the opportunity to study in India.

The $3 million brings the total amount of Commonwealth Government support to the Institute to $12.6m since 2009.
 

Media Release

4 July 2014

Indian and Australian students and scientists ‘experience’ Mars in South Australian outback

Indian and Australian space scientists and students are carrying out a range of experiments in the Flinders Range in South Australia, a rugged environment that simulates the planet Mars.

Acting Australian High Commissioner to India Bernard Philip welcomed the innovative collaboration between the two countries.

“Australia and India are developing many collaborative linkages in the exciting field of civil space science,” Mr Philip said.

From 4 to 20 July 2014, the Mars Research Study: Man vs Machine vs Wild project will compare how well human astronauts and robotic vehicles can work together and perform tasks on Mars. The project will also involve joint research into geology and astrobiology.

The Indian Institute of Technology (Bombay) is participating in the study, along with the University of New South Wales, Murdoch University and Macquarie University. A group of high school teachers will also attend as part of NASA’s Spaceward Bound program to develop classroom teaching materials.

“Geoscience Australia has helped the Indian Space Research Organisation calibrate its satellites, and the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex is tracking India’s satellite Mangalyaan on its voyage to Mars,” Mr Philip said.

“This project will further strengthen this collaboration, bringing together current and future space scientists.”

Australian space industry company Saber Astronautics is managing the project in partnership with Mars Society Australia and Mars Society India, and with funding from the Australia India Council.

The development of joint space science educational programs is one objective of the 2012 bilateral Memorandum of Understanding between India and Australia concerning cooperation in civil space science, technology and education.

Further queries: Martin Landauer (Australian Consulate General in Chennai) [email protected]

Media Release

13 June 2014

Australian Consulate General supports Brett Lee Foundation’s Mewsic Program

The Australian Consul General in Mumbai, Mr Mark Pierce, presented a cheque of Rs 7,52,205 to Pratham on 12 June to support Mewsic, a Brett Lee Foundation. The funds will go towards the creation of new music centres for underprivileged youth across Mumbai where hundreds of disadvantaged youth from five slum areas in Mumbai will have the opportunity to study music in a safe environment.

Pratham, in collaboration with Mewsic, has a proven record of using music as a tool for development. Through its programs, literacy and numeracy skills of disadvantage children have been improved. Their involvement in music has led to greater self-confidence, concentration levels and diligence, as well as building dreams and aspirations for a better future. Mewsic collaborates with local municipal schools, night shelters and groups working with victims of domestic violence to identify participants.

During the handover ceremony, Mr Pierce commended the efforts of Mewsic which is the brainchild of Australian fast bowler, Brett Lee. Mr Lee’s vision is to ensure that music is widely recognized and used as a powerful tool to heal, educate and empower underprivileged children.

“As a result of the Australian funding, over 600 children will have access to guitar and keyboard lessons as well as vocal and dance tuition. We are privileged to help them. I hope to see these children perform at one of their melas at the end of the year’, said Mr Pierce.

The project is among the nine successful applicants funded in 2013-14 by the Australian Consulate General in Mumbai through its Direct Aid Program (DAP), an annual scheme that funds small and innovative community development projects. A total of Rs 57,06,176 has been provided to fund:

• infrastructure and equipment to support Apnalaya's community development programmes in Shivaji Nagar, Mumbai;
• basic amenities for a girls hostel for poor and orphaned girls to ensure underprivileged girls can continue their education for SAMPARC in Malavli;
• a rain water harvesting and waste water recycling plant for SPARSH rural hospital for Planning Rural Urban Development Through Education (PRIDE) in Osmanabad;
• irrigation facilities for Sanjeevani Institute for Empowerment and Development in Dhule;
• a micro irrigation system and dug well for Shikshan Ane Samaj Kalyan Kendra in Amreli;
• an eye testing camp and essential equipment for an eye hospital for the Rotary Club of Bombay Hills South Charities Trust in Raigad;
• a rain water harvesting facility for Vikas Samarth Kendra in Amreli; and 
• a rain water harvesting facility for Watershed Organisation Trust in Ahmednagar.

Mr Pierce said he was pleased Australia could support these organisations, and particularly praised the dedication and commitment of their staff.

Information on the Consulate General’s Direct Aid Program can be found at http://www.india.embassy.gov.au/ndli/DAP.html

For media enquiries, please email [email protected] 

Media Release

12 June 2014

Australia and VFS Global extend visa service delivery in India and Nepal

Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) and VFS Global have agreed to provide visa application services through three new and 10 upgraded Australia Visa Application Centres (VACs) across the region.

Travellers to Australia from India and Nepal can now apply for their visas more conveniently from nine upgraded VACs located in Indian cities of Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai (North) and New Delhi, and one in Kathmandu, Nepal. In future, visa applicants can lodge their visa requests from three new Australia VACs, to be rolled out in Jalandhar, Mumbai (South) and Pune over the next two weeks. This enhanced service network will save time and travel expense, and will speed up the entire visa application process.

While inaugurating the Australia VAC in Mumbai on 12 June 2014, Mr Mark Pierce, Australian Consul General, Mumbai welcomed the new facilities and hoped that they would help lead to increased numbers of Indian business leaders, students and tourists to Australia.
“For the first time in its history, our High Commission in New Delhi issued more than 100,000 tourism visas to Indians in a single financial year, with numbers increasing by 10 percent in the first three months of this year. This is a real milestone for the bilateral relationship, said Mr Pierce. This follows a 50 per cent increase in Indian student visa applications over the last year.”

Upbeat about this partnership, Mr Anil Katoch, COO - South Asia, VFS Global stated, “VFS Global is privileged to partner the Government of Australia since October 2007 in India and Nepal, besides serving the client government in 21 other countries globally. Catering to the growing demand of Australia bound travellers in India; we aim to offer high-quality applicant-friendly services to provide a seamless visa application experience to all travellers applying through our Visa Application Centres. This extension of our association with the Government of Australia reflects their faith in our abilities, and we are sure this will go a long way in forging a longstanding partnership with VFS Global.”

The key features of the new centres include:

• Conveniently located and easily accessible state-of-the art Visa Application Centres
• Revised operating hours keeping in mind applicants’ convenience and country specific requirements
• Dedicated counters for applicants and travel agents/ tour operators
• Premium Lounge facilities available at Chennai and Bengaluru locations
• Facility for “witnessing” copies of original passports and documents
• Internet kiosk with scanning and mailing facility
• SMS service for tracking application status
• Video Conferencing facility for interviews
• 100% secure handling of passports, documents and personal information
• Professional and responsive staff with local language capability dedicated to handle visa queries and applications
• Automated queue governance for smooth flow of applicants, providing better crowd management
• Dedicated website for easy access to information including visa categories, requirements and check-list and applicable fees
• Dedicated call centres and email support to answer queries and status of application
• Doorstep delivery of passports

All applications will continue to be assessed and processed by respective missions of Australia in the region. For more information about the visa application centres, please visit http://www.vfs-au-in.com/ 

For media enquiries, please email [email protected] 

Media Release

11 June 2014

Australian Government unveils sports program around cricket to enhance trade and investment

The Australian Trade Commission today in Mumbai launched the Match Australia business networking program for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Match Australia is the Australian Government International Sports Business Program, created to connect Australian businesses with global partners through major sporting events.

During the ICC World Cup (14 February-29 March 2015) Match Australia will promote Australian capability and enhance business opportunities across trade, investment, education and tourism with India.

The Match Australia - ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 program was launched in the presence of the Hon Leon Bignell MP, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport, Government of South Australia; Mr John Harnden AM, CEO ICC Cricket World Cup 2015; Mr Mark Pierce, Australian Consul-General for Western India and Ms Kylie Bell, Trade and Investment Commissioner, Australian Trade Commission, Mumbai.

The Australian Trade Commission, in partnership with Australian State and Territory governments, will host Indian business delegations during the tournament to do business and network with Australian business leaders during cricket matches of this leading international sporting event.

A range of tailored business matching activities for visiting Indian business leaders can also be arranged while attending the tournament..

Speaking at the launch, Ms Kylie Bell, Trade and Investment Commissioner, Australian Trade Commission said, “The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is a significant platform to further enhance Australia - India trade and investment relationship and people-to-people links. We welcome Indian businesses to Australia to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, to not only enjoy the cricket, but to also see for yourself, the business and investment opportunities on offer and meet with Australian businesses.

We are a major trading nation with a $1.5 trillion economy - now entering its 23rd consecutive year of growth. Australia has a great sporting events industry, but it is also home to globally significant companies across a range of industries. Australia is also known as a world class education destination. Our universities regularly rank among the world’s very best.

The Match Australia business programme will connect Indian businesses with Australian partners and key business and investment opportunities in Australia. The Australian Government would be pleased to host you during your visit and organise a series of business matching and networking activities, based on your specific business interests”.

According to Mr John Harnden AM, CEO ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, “In the sports arena, Australia has a world-clas