Mr. Sibal visited Australia as Guest of the Australian Government from February 7 to 12, 2008 and was coordinated by the Australian Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. He was also the first Indian Minister to visit Australia after the new Government led by the Leader of the Australian Labor Party, Mr. Kevin Rudd MP, was sworn in on 3rd of December 2007.
The Union Minister of Science & Technology Shri Kapil Sibal addressing at the signing ceremony of a Strategic R&D Partnership agreement for joint research activities focusing on sustainability issues as a part of the overall Australia-India Strategic Research Programme, in New Delhi on May 07, 2008. The Director General, CSIR, Prof. Samir K. Brahmachari and the Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr. John McCarthy.
Taking note of the ongoing 21 projects under the India-Australia Strategic Research Fund, the two Ministers agreed to further strengthen bilateral scientific cooperation focussing on industrial research and development and high technology areas such as nano-composites, bio-energy, health and agricultural bio-technology, climate change and renewable energy particularly using photo-voltaic technology. They also agreed to set-up a Joint Working Group (JWG) to create a roadmap for strengthening bilateral S&T cooperation in the next six months.
During the visit, Mr Sibal met with Senator Ms. Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water, and Mr. Robert McClelland, MP, Attorney General. He also met the Victorian Governor, Professor David de Kretser,AC: Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Innovation, Mr. Gavin Jennings, MLC: and NSW Minister for Science and Medical Research, Ms. Verity Firth, MP. Mr. Sibal also visited three of the Austria’s group of eight Universities (University of New South Wales, University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne), amongst the leading universities of the world, as well as some of the Premier R&D institutions e.g. Wolter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, centenary Institute of Cancer and Cell Biology and Bio21 Institute.
Mr Sibal also addressed the Australia-India business council at Sydney, and invited the Australian Industry to jointly work with their Indian counterparts for accessing global market for the production of world class products at affordable prices using complimentary strengths available in two countries.
INDIA SEEKS MARKET ACCESS TO EXPORT AGRI PRODUCTS TO AUSTRALIA
India is keen to export agricultural products and dairy & poultry products to Australia and has asked Australia to facilitate these exports through appropriate market access initiatives and removing non-tariff barriers. This was conveyed by Shri Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, during his bilateral talks with the Trade Minister Mr. Simon Crean,.
India is also looking forward to exporting mangoes from April 2008, the Minister added. The meeting was attended by the Commerce Secretary Shri G.K. Pillai; Secretary (DIPP) Shri Ajay Shankar; Director General of Foreign Trade Shri R.S. Gujral and senior officials from various Ministries from both the countries.
Shri Kamal Nath stated that “India is growing and a stable investment climate presents huge opportunities for Australian companies, particularly in energy and infrastructure sectors. Some of the major Australian companies, which have invested in India are BHP Petroleum Pty. Ltd., Telstra Corporation Ltd., Telstra Holding Pty. Ltd., Australian India Resources N.L.., BHP Steel, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, MIM Holdings, Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation etc. |
Australia’s investments in India have been US $ 1.92 billion since 1991. Indian investments in Australia are now well over US $ 1 billion and most of these are in the IT sector”. The bilateral trade between India and Australia has seen a growth of 37.50% between 2005-06 and 2006-07, and the total bilateral trade during 2006-07 is US $ 7932.79 million. Bilateral trade from April to September 2007 is US $ 4967.27 million recording a growth of 29.41% for the same period in 2006. The compounded Annual Growth Rate during 2001-02 and 2006-07 is 14.14% for exports and 32.31% for imports. For total trade during the same period, the CAGR is 28.96%.
India’s exports to Australia in 2006-07 were US $ 924.78 million, an increase of 12.61% from 2005-06. India’s imports in 2006-07 was US $ 7008.01 million, an increase of 41.64% over 2005-06. Australia’s trade in services with India during 2006-07 was US $ 1895 million. Of this, the import of services was US $ 360 million and the export was US $ 1536 million.
The major items of India’s exports are gems & jewellery, metals, machinery & instruments, cotton yarn, fabrics, drugs & pharmaceuticals. The major imports consists of gold, coal, coke and briquettes, metal ore, metal scraps and non-ferrous metals.
INDIA RAISES MANGO EXPORT ISSUE WITH AUSTRALIA
 The Trade Minister of Australia, Mr. Simon Crean accompanied by a delegation called on Shri Sharad Pawar, Minister of Agriculture in Januray.
Both sides appreciated the growing economic cooperation between the two countries and reiterated the need for increase in trade between the two countries to enhance economic cooperation between India and Australia.
The Indian side raised the issue of mango export to Australia. The Australian trade Minister agreed to convey the Indian concerns to Australian government and promised that Australian government would address the issue in right earnest to facilitate mango export from India to Australia.
The Agriculture Minister referred to the issue of food security and informed the Australian delegation of the efforts being made by the Indian scientists to develop drought resistant seed variety to meet the challenge of the adverse impact of climate change affecting the agriculture in particular.
The Australian delegation voiced its concern regarding the subsidies declared by the Government of India for sugar industry.
They were of the view that these were non-compliant with the WTO regime. Officers present from the Indian side explained the background necessitating the subsidies stating that the subsidies were being extended to make payments to the sugarcane farmers and were in a way helping the international sugar prices to remain firm. It was emphasized that these measures were within the WTO mandated regime. Both the Ministers expressed hope that some solution would be found to settle the issue through discussion between the two governments.
TREATY BETWEEN INDIA AND AUSTRALIA ON MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS
The Union Cabinet gave its approval for signing of Treaty between India and Australia on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and also to ratify the Treaty.
The Treaty will improve the effectiveness of both countries in the investigation and prosecution of crime, including crime related to terrorism and tracing restraint and forfeiture of the proceeds and instruments of crime, through cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
India has already signed similar Treaties / Agreements on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters with Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Canada, Russian Federation, France, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, United State of America, South Africa, Bahrain, Thailand, Kuwait, South Korea, Singapor, Belarus, Mauritius, Spain, Mexico, Bulgaria and Vietnam. |
