India inaugurated its new consulate in Brisbane, Australia, on Monday, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasizing that the relationship between the two nations has significantly evolved in recent years, thanks in part to a trade deal that has created numerous opportunities.
Jaishankar described the consulate's opening as a milestone in strengthening bilateral ties and acknowledged the growing significance of Queensland in this relationship, noting that the state plays an "important role" in their expanding connections.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar with Queensland governor Jeannette Young, in Brisbane on Monday. (DrSJaishankar- X)
Queensland is home to nearly 100,000 of the approximately one million people of Indian origin living in Australia, making India the state’s second-largest export market. In addition to Brisbane, India maintains consulates in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.
The consulate will be led by Consul General Neetu Bhagotia, a seasoned diplomat with experience in Indian missions in Bhutan and Russia, as well as roles in the Western Europe, Central Europe, and policy planning divisions of the external affairs ministry.
Jaishankar highlighted that much of the trade between India and Australia is driven by Queensland, where the Indian diaspora is both "strong and growing." The consulate’s team will focus on serving the expanding diaspora and students while fostering ties in the economy, education, and research.
During his fifth visit to Australia in three years, Jaishankar remarked that this reflects the "growing intensity of our cooperation." The bilateral relationship has transformed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
He noted that the Indian community in Australia, which enhances people-to-people connections, has gained respect through its contributions across various fields, including academia, research, technology, business, and healthcare.
Queensland Governor Jeannette Young, who also spoke at the inauguration, stated that the new consulate symbolizes the deepening relationship between India and Queensland. She mentioned that Brisbane, Ipswich, and Hyderabad are "tripartite sister cities," and that Queensland benefits from strong connections in diverse sectors such as trade, investment, agriculture, manufacturing, engineering, technology, and renewable energy.
India is Australia’s sixth-largest trading partner, with two-way trade increasing from $22.2 billion in 2021 to $31.4 billion in 2022, representing a growth of 41%. India’s exports to Australia rose by 38%, from $6.3 billion in 2021 to $8.7 billion in the same period.
As of July 2024, Queensland's exports to India reached $4.5 billion, while its imports were valued at $375 million, resulting in a significant surplus for the Australian state. However, India accounted for only 3.95% of Queensland’s total global exports, which amounted to $113.8 billion.
During his five-day visit to Australia, Jaishankar also toured the Humanitarian Logistics Capability (HLC) warehouse, which provides humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies for the Pacific region.
Jaishankar’s statement
“With the new consulate, I also want to tell the Indian community and people of Indian-origin resident in Australia that your consular needs would be addressed in a timely manner and with much greater convenience,” he added.
“The Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement is one indication of that. It has certainly opened up huge trade opportunities for our countries and we hope to take that to the next level...Queensland actually accounts for the vast majority of exports from Australia to India,” he said.
“Disaster relief in Indo-Pacific is an emerging element of our bilateral ties. Appreciate Australia’s support for delivery of relief material to Papua New Guinea in June 2024. HADR has also been an important element of QUAD endeavours,” he said on X.
Comments