Almost 15 years ago, as Victoria’s Minister for Industry and Trade, I wrote to the then Premier about the need to establish a strategic relationship with India.
For two places with so much in common, I was sure there were untapped opportunities we needed to explore.
While I can’t take full credit for the idea – the benefits of better engagement with India spoke for themselves – it was the beginning of a new chapter in our partnership.
Since then, that partnership has gone from strength to strength.
Victoria is now home to the largest Indian-born community in Australia – a community that makes our state stronger, smarter, better and brighter.
And the bonds between our two regions have grown even stronger, too.
We are proud to be a key trade and investment partner with India – from food and fibre, to education and innovation.
And every year, our ties grow as we welcome more students, visitors and businesses from India to our state.
Our Government released Victoria’s most recent India Strategy in 2018. And while we’ve achieved much since then, the world has changed just as rapidly.
With this new Strategy, we chart new horizons, envision new opportunities and strengthen our partnership in an ever-evolving world.
Importantly, it’s a strategy that is grounded in partnership. We have worked with our partners – both in Victoria and India – to make sure it delivers the right outcomes for both our regions.
This is our roadmap to shared prosperity.
Our partnership spans the distance of more than 9,000 kilometres, but we’ve never been closer.
Hon. Jacinta Allan MP
Premier of Victoria
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