The Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese on Wednesday announced the opening of a new Australian Consulate General in Bengaluru saying that it will help in connecting the country’s businesses to India’s booming digital and innovation ecosystem.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Sydney, PM Albanese said, “I'm pleased to announce the establishment of a new Australian Consulate General in Bengaluru, which will help connect Australian businesses to India's booming digital and innovation ecosystem. And I welcome India's plans for a consulate general in Brisbane.”
He said, “The Bengaluru establishment will be the fifth diplomatic presence that is there in India from Australia. I want to thank you again, Prime Minister Modi for visiting and receiving such a warm welcome here. And I look forward to returning to India in September for the G 20 leaders summit.”
The joint press conference was addressed by PM Modi and the Australian PM after exchanging the MoUs on mobility, migration and green hydrogen task force. PM Albanese also spoke about his meeting with PM Modi in a year saying that this is the sixth time the pair is meeting in a year.
He also spoke about the Quad Summit, which took place in Japan’s Hiroshima on the sidelines of the Group of Seven or G7 Summit. He reiterated the Quad Summit statement saying, “Quad leaders stand together for an open, stable, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. A region where sovereignty is respected and all countries large and small benefit from a regional balance that keeps the peace. This is my 6th meeting with prime minister Modi in one year.”
He further stated, “My visit to India in March for the Australia India Annual Leaders' Summit focused on the key pillars of our relationship trade, investment and business cooperation, defence and security cooperation, climate and energy cooperation, and of course, people-to-people links.”
Australian PM Albanese also said that in today’s bilateral meeting, both the leaders further built on those pillars. They reiterated that the shared ambition for an early conclusion of the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement later this year.
PM Modi and PM Albanese also expressed their pleasure to have witnessed the exchange of the Australia – India Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement.
He said, “This arrangement will promote the exchange of students, graduates, researchers and business people, expand our people-to-people ties, and enhance cooperation in preventing people.”
“The Task Force will comprise Australian and Indian experts in renewable hydrogen and report to the Australian Indian Ministerial Energy Dialogue on the opportunities which are there for Australia and India to cooperate in this important area of renewable hydrogen,” the Australian PM added.
PM Albanese further said, “Investments like the Task Force will help power our industries in the future and ensure that Australia and India meet our energy targets in the interests of both our respective countries, but also in support of the reduction of global emissions.”
