The Australia India Business Council (AIBC) has marked its 40th anniversary with a business address in Perth, bringing together representatives from government, business, trade and education to discuss opportunities for strengthening commercial ties between Australia and India.
Supported by the Consulate, the anniversary event featured a keynote address by the Consul General on the growing Australia-India partnership, alongside remarks from Yaz Mubarakai MLA, Member for Oakford.
The gathering recognised four decades of business engagement between the two countries while providing a platform to discuss how trade agreements, industry collaboration and international partnerships can support future commercial opportunities.
ECTA in Focus: Building Today, Shaping Tomorrow
A key highlight was a panel discussion titled “ECTA: Building Today, Shaping Tomorrow”, which explored how the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) could translate into practical business opportunities, stronger partnerships and sustainable growth.
The panel brought together representatives from government, higher education, industry and the Australia India Business Council.
Participants included Pamela Currie, Western Australia State Director at the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Professor Jennifer Howell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) at The University of Western Australia; Michael Carter, Head of International Trade and Investment Services at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA; and Deepak Raj Gupta, National Chair of the AIBC.
The discussion examined how trade agreements can support organisations operating across Australia and India, while highlighting the importance of turning policy frameworks into tangible commercial outcomes.
Turning Trade Opportunities Into Business Partnerships
ECTA provides a framework for closer economic engagement between Australia and India. However, translating that framework into business outcomes requires organisations to identify opportunities, develop partnerships and navigate the practical requirements of international trade.
The panel offered an opportunity for representatives across sectors to consider how businesses could engage with the agreement and build connections across the two markets.
The involvement of government, industry and higher education also reflected the range of stakeholders contributing to bilateral economic engagement, from trade facilitation and investment services to international collaboration.
Four Decades of Australia-India Business Engagement
The 40th anniversary marked an important milestone for the Australia India Business Council, which brings together business interests connected to both countries.
The Perth event provided an opportunity to reflect on the role of business engagement in the bilateral relationship and consider how organisations can build on existing connections to pursue future trade and investment opportunities.
As Australia and India continue to develop their commercial relationship, discussions around ECTA and cross-border partnerships remain relevant to businesses seeking to operate in both markets.
The anniversary gathering combined recognition of the AIBC’s four decades of engagement with a forward-looking discussion on practical trade opportunities, collaboration and sustainable growth between Australia and India.
