Our working groups
Five joint working groups were established in 2023 following the first meeting of the revitalised CEO Forum in Mumbai. Each group focused on specific objectives to enhance bilateral trade and investment. Fifty-four recommendations across twenty policy areas were presented to both governments in 2024.
With the policy work completed, the joint working groups were transitioned to Networks focused on six sectors critical to both countries.
Both India and Australia must respond to the challenges of climate change, and Australia stands ready to support India in its pursuit of greater efficiency and opportunity for the nation’s farmers. We also realise the importance of capacity and capability building in the areas of food and water security. The initial joint working group focused on agritech, an area identified as a shared priority for Australia and India, but one that offers enormous opportunity in the exchange of technology and innovation to support and grow the agriculture sectors of both countries.
The strategic potential for greater collaboration by Australia and India on the digital economy is exciting yet currently constrained by an underdeveloped bilateral framework. There is a significant opportunity to strengthen the eco-system and build complementarities and greater collaboration between Australia and India to drive trade and investment, as well as skill development and enhanced employment pathways.
Given India’s education reform agenda, the partnership between Australia and India creates significant opportunities for advanced cooperation between respective governments. It is widely recognised that partnerships across teaching programs, research collaborations, skills and training, and staff mobility will benefit both countries and advance bilateral trade and investment. Opportunities between industry and the education sector should also be leveraged to support and grow business in both Australia and India.
(Australian co-chair)
(Indian co-chair)
A key component for both countries meeting their carbon reduction targets will be the ability to access supply chains as well as developing domestic manufacturing capability. There are significant opportunities for collaboration to address climate change challenges, as well as the great potential for bilateral investment through partnerships between the two nations.
These are priority areas for both Australia and India, offering enormous opportunity for economic growth and investment. The World Bank estimates that India will need to invest US $840 billion over the next 15 years into urban infrastructure if it is to effectively meet the needs of its fast-growing cities.
While trade between the two countries is growing, two-way investment has yet to reach its potential.
(Indian co-chair)
(Carbon and Power Markets)