Australia to improve trade ties with India

Chennai, Sep 21: Australia is well poised to take advantage of the expanding business opportunities in India, Australian Trade Commissioner and Consul-General Aminur Rahman said here today.

''Our entrepreneurs, large and small, with expertise in areas as diverse as agriculture, wine consumer goods, health, mining, infrastructure, services, film and entertainment are successfully working hand-in-hand with business partners in the region'', he told reporters.

Mr Rahman said the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) was the Australian Government's international trade promotion and export facilitation agency and a logical first port-of-call for Indian companies to do business with Australia.

''In 2005-2006, the Austrade had helped close to 400 Indian companies source goods and services from Australia'', he said.

He said ''with 80 points of contact across Australia and a presence in ten Indian cities, Austrade provides a network of industry specialists offering a range of free services for Indian business.'' Austrade had launched 'Utsav Australia (celebrate Australia), the Australian Government's three-year initative to raise awareness of Australian industry capability in India and to help Indian companies find the right Australian partner for the right business, he added.

UNI