Our Bureau
Mumbai
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, announced that negotiations for the second phase of the India-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are progressing well and have reached an “advanced business end” stage. Speaking in Mumbai during the India-Australia Business and Community Alliance Awards Gala, which concluded the IABCA India Immersion Week, Green highlighted the significant success of the first phase of the FTA. He noted that while India’s overall exports grew 40% globally over the last five years, exports to Australia surged by 200% during the same period, underscoring the effectiveness of the agreement.
Green described the India-Australia relationship as a “natural alliance” characterized by complementarity rather than competition. Australia supports India’s manufacturing growth with energy, minerals for the green transition, and workforce skills and training. Both countries have invested heavily in the partnership through new consulates and business exchanges. He also reaffirmed that Australia remains a safe and welcoming destination for the Indian diaspora, with over a million people of Indian origin residing there.
Looking ahead, Green identified clean energy, agriculture, education, and tourism as key areas for bilateral growth, dubbing them “superhighways” in the economic roadmap backed by strong policy support to expand investment and trade. While he did not confirm any visits by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to India, Green emphasized the ongoing close engagement between Indian and Australian leaders. The week-long IABCA event brought together over 400 delegates across New Delhi and Mumbai, showcasing the deepening economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
Green’s statements underline Australia’s strong commitment to advancing the FTA and further strengthening one of Asia’s most promising bilateral economic partnerships.
