Since the release of Victoria’s India Strategy: Our Shared Future (the 2018 Strategy) the Victoria-India relationship has gone from strength to strength – but there is potential for it to reach even greater heights.
The 2018 Strategy provided opportunities to strengthen our partnership, from collaboration across international education, food and fibre, and sustainability, to building a knowledge economy and boosting bilateral trade and investment. Victoria has established strong connections with India and demonstrated how we can work with industry through government partnerships. This strategy outlines a deliberate and contemporary approach for a targeted and mutually beneficial partnership between India and Victoria.
Our world has changed since 2018
Since the 2018 Strategy, the Victorian Government has sharpened our thinking across several priority sectors, including through the Climate Change Strategy; Creative State Strategy 2025; ‘Made in Victoria 2030: Manufacturing Statement’; Victoria’s International Education Recovery Plan 2025 and the Gender Equality Strategy. Achieving Victoria’s nation leading ambitions on climate action and energy transition, housing, and gender equality will require work with domestic and international partners.
India became the world’s most populous country in 2023 and is expected to become the world’s third largest economy by 2030. Since 2010, India’s Gross Domestic Product has more than doubled, reaching more than $5.2 trillion in 2023. Its growing middle class and increasingly urbanised and highly educated population is fuelling consumer spending, while its innovative businesses are stimulating investment and technological development at pace. Victoria’s complementary strengths and strong ties between our people position us well to be a partner in this growth.
Deeper engagement at the national and regional level in recent years will also allow Victoria to unlock new opportunities. In 2020, Australia and India upgraded their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), and discussions for future cooperation have centred on areas such as advanced manufacturing, sustainability, education and skills, diaspora relations, sports, creative industries, and others. In December 2022, the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) entered into force, significantly reducing tariffs on agricultural products and opening opportunities for more Victorian exports. These developments are expected to create opportunities for both Victorian and Indian businesses and service providers.
Built on the solid foundation of the 2018 Strategy, this refresh aims to further develop the Victoria-India relationship to ensure businesses and communities are supported to achieve their potential for years to come.
Victoria’s commitment to gender equality
Victoria leads the nation in progressing gender equality, and Our Equal State: Victoria’s Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2027 represents a significant step forward in this critical work.
Victoria is proud to be the first and only jurisdiction in Australia to have enshrined public sector gender equality in legislation through the Gender Equality Act 2020, demonstrating our commitment to systemic and structural reform.
Victoria is committed to embedding the guiding principles of Our Equal State into the Victoria-India relationship. We will support the implementation of structural and cultural change, inclusion, diversity and accessibility, and Aboriginal self-determination to ensure gender equality remains a priority.
This complements India’s implementation of a suite of initiatives designed to improve gender equality. The 2023 Women’s Reservation Bill aims to increase the number of women in national and state parliaments. Aligning with this intent, the Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions Project promotes gender equity in science and technology and government loan programs.
As part of this refreshed strategy, we will build on our successes promoting gender equality together. In 2020, for example, the Global Victoria Women (GVw) initiative led an all-women inbound trade mission, with 16 out of 60 international female leader delegates from India. Victorian trade activities have been strong in women-led industries including DIDAC, Asia’s largest education technology exhibition, and Cosmoprof India, South Asia’s largest beauty and wellness trade show.
The Victorian Government has also funded initiatives focused on gender equality in the education sector. Future Forte, a gender equity initiative for international students, and STEM Sisters, a community dedicated to empowering women of colour in STEM have set the scene for the next generation of global woman leaders to succeed. Similarly, the Department of Education’s Women in School Leadership (WISL) program empowered exemplary school principals from Victoria and India to explore issues like student and staff mental health and wellbeing. The program increased intercultural capabilities and allowed principals to develop strong professional relationships while growing as leaders.
Building on these initiatives the Victorian Government is conducting Gender Impact Assessments on any new policy, programs and services that have a direct and significant impact on the public. Over the next five years, Victoria is eager to enhance our shared gender equality commitment and Panel Pledge.
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