The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Mining still a priority for Australia: envoy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 18, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Mining still a priority for Australia: envoy

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, FEB. 17. Mining and minerals continues to be important for Australia's trade, despite the emergence of new opportunities in services, the Australian High Commissioner, John McCarthy, observed today.

"Digging for ores, coal and gas is something we continue to be good at and it will continue to be important for the Australian trade," he said, referring to suggestions for diversification of bilateral trade from commodities.

Addressing a meeting here organised by the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce, the High Commissioner, who took charge recently, said there was substantial export of Australian gold and diamonds to India but this did not feature in bilateral trade statistics because the exports were routed through Singapore and Belgium.

Acknowledging the quality of five-star hotels in India, he said the tourist potential in India could be realised better if quality accommodation was available "in the middle range".

India became the biggest source of postgraduate students for Australian universities and the third biggest source of university students, but about 50 per cent of Indian students went to Australia with the hope of becoming permanent residents. The need to develop cooperation and partnership between Indian and Australian universities and centres of excellence was more important.

Denying that Australia's primary interest lay in its relations with the West, he said, "we should be judged by our deeds." He expressed the hope that the resurgence of mutual interest in India and Australia seen in recent times would be sustained. Australians were aware of the take-off of the Indian economy, though it might take a generation for India to progress on a par with Japan.

The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, was likely to visit India in the middle of this year, Mr. McCarthy said.

N.C. Sarabeswaran, chamber president, called for a liberalised regime of issue of multi-entry visas by Australia, that too for longer periods, in view of the increasing demand for skilled workforce in Australia and India's strength in terms of a large and qualified workforce.

C. Saratchandran, chamber director, suggested that Australia take part in India's urban renewal programme.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu