Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is on a three-day visit to Australia, met Tony Abbott, Australian Prime Minister's Special Trade Envoy in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Taking to Twitter, Goyal said that Abbott has played a key role in realising the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).
"It was a pleasure meeting Australian PM's Special Trade Envoy for India @HonTonyAbbottin Melbourne. He has played a key role in realising the #IndAusECTA. Discussed how both countries can build on this deal to increase supply chain resilience in the Indo-Pacific region," Goyal tweeted.
Goyal on Tuesday began his three-day visit to Australia days after inking India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).
During the visit, Goyal will hold wide-ranging discussions with his Australian counterpart, Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, on carrying forward the ECTA, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said in a statement.
ECTA is the first trade agreement of India with a developed country after more than a decade and provides for an institutional mechanism to improve trade between the two countries.
According to the statement, Goyal will also be meeting Jason Wood, MP, Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Roger Cook, MLA, Deputy Premier of Western Australia, and Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade, Tourism, Commerce and Science and Madeline King, Shadow Trade Minister.
During his packed schedule, Goyal will visit the University of Melbourne and Australia India Institute on Wednesday. He will address a Public conversation with Minister Dan Tehan and Allan Myers, Chancellor, University of Melbourne, at the Melbourne Law School in The University of Melbourne.
Union Minister will also visit the landmark Melbourne Cricket Ground and address the Australia-India Chamber of Commerce and Austrade, along with Minister Dan Tehan, besides interacting with the Indian media. He will later visit the Shiva Vishnu Temple in Melbourne and attend a Community event with the Indian Diaspora.
On Thursday, Goyal and Minister Dan Tehan will address and interact with students at the in University campus.
Union Minister will later address the Emerging Diaspora Business Leaders Reception hosted by India-Australia Business and Community Awards (IABCA). Later in the evening, Goyal, accompanied by Minister Dan Tehan and Minister Alex Hawke, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, will attend a Community event at the Swaminarayan Temple in Sydney. Before leaving Sydney on Friday, Goyal will also meet Alan Joyce, CEO & MD, Qantas Airways.
Goyal will meet with the Australian Agricultural Producers and hold talks with Deputy Premier Roger Cook and Madeline King, Shadow Trade Minister in Perth. He will visit the Western Australia Cricket Ground (WACA) in Perth and attend a Tourism event in conjunction with Tourism Western Australia, besides holding a Press Interaction with the Indian Media Delegation. On Friday evening, Goyal will address the Community Centre Indian Society of Western Australia (ISWA).
Australia is the 17th largest trading partner of India and India is Australia's 9th largest trading partner.
The ECTA is expected to almost double the bilateral trade from USD 27.5 bn (2021) to about USD 45 to USD 50 Billion in the next 5 years. ECTA is expected to create new employment opportunities, raise living standards and enhance the overall welfare of the peoples of both countries. Additional employment generation is expected to be 10 lakhs within the next 5 years.
( With inputs from ANI )
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