NSW Premier Chris Minns will lead a four-day official mission to India later this month, accompanied by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, in a move aimed at expanding New South Wales’ economic, educational and cultural connections with one of its most significant international partners. The delegation will travel to New Delhi and Mumbai from 31 August to 3 September 2026.
The visit was announced by Premier Minns at an India 80th Independence Day celebration held at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour. It will also mark the Premier’s first international trip since taking office, underscoring the importance his government places on the relationship between NSW and India.
The four-day itinerary will combine meetings with senior government and business representatives alongside community and cultural engagements. The NSW Government says the mission is intended to attract fresh investment, strengthen commercial connections and identify opportunities that can benefit exporters, businesses and workers across the state.
The economic relationship already has substantial value. During 2024–25, trade in goods between NSW and India reached $6.87 billion, placing India among the state’s most important trading partners. The government intends to build on that foundation by pursuing further opportunities in areas where NSW has established strengths and where demand in India continues to expand.
Tourism and education are also expected to feature prominently. In the year ending March 2026, approximately 174,000 visitors from India travelled to NSW, contributing around $600 million in expenditure and recording 8.5 million visitor nights. At the same time, more than 28,000 Indian students were enrolled in NSW, making India one of the state’s leading international education markets.
The delegation will pursue opportunities across education, research and innovation, agrifood, clean energy, critical minerals, technology, tourism and advanced industries. According to the NSW Government, stronger engagement across these fields could help local exporters enter or expand within Indian markets, encourage investment into NSW and contribute to employment and broader economic growth.
The program will also draw on NSW’s established relationship with Maharashtra, which is home to Mumbai and is regarded as one of India’s major economic centres. Strengthening that sister-state connection is expected to provide another platform for commercial, institutional and community cooperation between NSW and one of India’s most economically significant regions.
For Premier Minns, the mission also carries a strong community dimension. He highlighted the contribution of people who have moved from India to NSW, established businesses, raised families and participated in communities throughout the state. He said the Indian community forms an important part of NSW’s multicultural character and that his decision to make India his first overseas destination reflects that significance.
Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the relationship extends beyond the substantial value of bilateral trade, particularly through education. He said deeper economic, educational and innovation links could assist NSW exporters, encourage investment and generate enduring opportunities for businesses and families in Australia.
The India mission will not be the only international engagement undertaken during the trip. After completing the India program, Premier Minns will travel to Kathmandu from 4 to 5 September to strengthen NSW’s government and community connections with Nepal. During that period, Treasurer Mookhey will continue India-focused engagements in Bengaluru, particularly in support of trade, investment and technology objectives. Deputy Premier Prue Car will serve as Acting Premier while Minns is abroad.
The planned visit represents a significant state-level push to deepen NSW’s relationship with India at a time when commercial, educational and people-to-people connections between the two economies continue to grow. With billions of dollars in trade, a large Indian student population and rising visitor numbers, the mission is expected to focus on converting those existing links into further investment and opportunities for NSW.
