Joint media release
Australian Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile and
the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
Thursday, 19 October 2000
Ministers welcome new IT relationship with India
Trade Minister, Mark Vaile, and the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Richard Alston, have welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indian Government on cooperation in the information industries.
Mr Vaile and the Indian Minister for Information Technology, Mr Mahajan, signed the MOU in New Delhi yesterday during a visit by the Australian Minister for Trade focused on bilateral, regional and multilateral trade and investment issues.
"This MOU is another positive step in our expanding trade and investment relationship with India," Mr Vaile said.
Senator Alston will lead a business delegation to the major Indian conference and exhibition Comdex 2000, which will be held in New Delhi in December.
"Australian IT companies in the delegation to India will have the opportunity to explore this rapidly emerging market," Senator Alston said.
One of the outcomes of the MOU will be the formation of the Australia India Information Industries Business Network (AIIIBN) to encourage business collaboration between Australian and Indian IT firms. A series of meetings will be held in November with Australian companies interested in joining the network. Austrade have already received more than 60 expressions of interest.
Mr Vaile has invited the Chairman of Fujitsu Australia, Mr Neville Roach, to act as convenor of the network. Mr Roach has travelled to India with Mr Vaile to hold talks with the Indian IT business community and government officials, who will also establish a network of Indian firms with an interest in the Australian market.
Mr Vaile said the AIIIBN would provide a channel for direct communication between IT businesses in Australia and India, encourage new relationships as the two IT communities learned more about each other's strengths and create reciprocal market opportunities.
Senator Alston's IT business mission to Comdex India in December will build on the bilateral relationship facilitated by the MOU and the AIIIBN.
Contact: Bruce Mills 02 6277 7420
Local Date: Friday, 21-Nov-2008 05:43:11 EST