Narendra Modi meets top Australian industry leaders, discusses education, banking and IT

Melbourne, Nov 18: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday met industry leaders in Melbourne, including the managing directors of some of Australia's biggest companies, including Anthony Joseph Pratt, chairman and CEO of Pratt Industries.

At the CEOs Roundtable, Modi and the industry leaders discussed education, services, energy, banking and IT.

Among the other industry leaders attending the roundtable are Andrew Mackenzie, CEO of BHP Billiton Ltd; Phil Edmands, managing director, Rio Tinto and Tony Cripps, CEO, HSBC's operations in Australia.

"I have heard all your views in great detail. Have also got a business delegation with leading business leaders," Modi told the Australian businessmen, according to a tweet by the prime minister.

"Democratic values connect us. Want to hear from you all," he told them at the beginning of the meet.

The chief executive's forum is hosted by Victorian Governor Alex Chernov and involves about 30 business leaders with significant operations in India.

Top India business leaders like industrialist Gautam Adani, Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra and Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka are part of the roundtable.

Other CEO's include ONGC CMD Dinesh K Sarraf, Chariman Emeritus of Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd Sudhir Mehta, Chairman of Lanco Infrastructure L. Madhusudhan Rao, President of SP Jain School of Global Management Nitish Jain, CMD of Gujarat NRE Coke Ltd Arun Kumar Jagatramka and Austalia India Institute director Amitabh Mattoo.

The CEO's forum will be followed by a reception hosted by Governor Chernov attended by about 450 business and community leaders.

Modi arrived in Melbourne from Canberra where he addressed the Australian Parliament and held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott.

IANS