TELECOMMUNICATIONS JOINT VENTURES SIGNED UP IN INDIA

In New Delhi over the past twenty four hours, the Minister for Trade, Senator Bob McMullan, has witnessed the signing of two major telecommunications joint venture agreements between Australian and Indian companies.

Today, Stanilite signed on with Natelco, one of India's new private sector telecommunications companies, to manufacture mobile trunk radio systems in India. Yesterday, AWA finalised arrangements for the supply of rural transmission systems technology, also with Natelco.

Senator McMullan said these joint ventures are indicative of encouraging early moves into the Indian market by Australia's telecommunications industry.

"The Indian Government is liberalising the market, and our companies are in there taking advantage of the opportunities," he said.

"With approximately $30 million of investment already in India, companies such as Telstra, Datacraft, Exicom, Matrix, AWA and Stanilite are among the first to make large investments in Indian telecommunications.

"The AWA and Stanilite joint ventures reflect the changing face of Australia-India commercial partnerships.

"Australian companies have particular advantages in the infrastructure sectors, including telecommunications, where similarities in Australian topography and climate give us the edge in the development of technology appropriate to the Indian environment.

"And many of the new partnerships are between small and medium sized companies, whose managers put in a big effort to build strong personal relationships with their business partners.

"It is this personal touch that will be a key to the long term success of Australia-India business relationships."

Both AWA and Stanilite - represented by Managing Directors, John Dougall and John Harriss, respectively - are members of Senator McMullan's Indian business mission.

The mission includes senior representatives of Australia's telecommunications, mining, infrastructure, banking, insurance and agriculture industries.

Further information: John Flannery, (06) 277 7420, 018 482 887