S Australia rolls out 10-yr plan to enhance trade with India

Melbourne, Mar 25 (PTI) South Australia today rolled out a 10-year strategy to enhance trade ties with India by holding its first meeting of South Australia-India Council in Adelaide. State Trade Minister Tom Kenyon said the strategy identified key sectors of the economy that could take advantage of India's rapid development and create local jobs. According to an official statement, "The SA-India Council is holding its first meeting in Adelaide today as part of the State Government's long-term strategy to become a significant trade and investment partner with India. "The South Australia-India Council, which includes experts from business, government and the community will play a leading role in helping guide that strategy," Kenyon said. The council is being supported by an India team within the Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy (DMITRE), he said. This team will focus on the industry sectors identified in the India strategy - aerospace and defence, energy and natural resources, education and training and clean technology, Kenyon said, adding "commercial possibilities will be identified and prioritised and trade and investment strategies developed to ensure South Australia can respond rapidly and flexibly". "Our ongoing efforts to develop an innovative, high-value manufacturing sector in SA are also critical to building the capabilities we'll need to respond to the emerging demands of a more prosperous India. "We need to more effectively engag e with this emerging economic powerhouse and our India Strategy sets out how we'll achieve that," he said. "As outlined in the Premier's Economic Statement, we must become more outward-looking and be open to the economic opportunities afforded by export markets and to embrace the change and technologies that will help us become more productive," Kenyon said. The India Council – chaired by Strategic Adviser to India Brian Hayes – will be responsible for the governance, oversight and refinement of the India strategy, the statement said. The other me mbers of the India Advisory Council are Raymond Spencer (Chair Economic Development Board), Geoff Knight (Chief Executive DIMTRE), Don Frater (Executive Director State Development), Paul Sandercock (Executive Director SMR Automotive), Andrew Downs (Group Managing Director Sage Automation), among others. PTI