Radio Brisvaani
The Australia India Business Pty Ltd (AIB) and its Indian joint venture AIBX Enterprise Pvt Ltd marked a significant milestone on July 10 with the official international launch of their “Exploring Economic Synergies” seminar held at “66 on Ernest” in South Brisbane.
Bringing together top government officials, industry leaders, and education sector representatives, the half-day event underscored the growing momentum in bilateral trade, education, and investment partnerships between Australia and India.
Master of Ceremonies Jim Varghese AM set the tone with a formal welcome and acknowledgment of country, before outlining the objectives of the seminar — strengthening Australia-India business ties and fostering collaboration across sectors.
The event opened with a presentation by Ridhi Verma, Resident Director (Australia) of the Trade Promotion Council of India, highlighting India’s trade potential and its growing footprint in Australia.
A key session on trade opportunities and industry policies saw insightful addresses by Indian High Commissioner to Australia His Excellency Gopal Baglay, Federal MP Shayne Neumann, and Senator Paul Scarr. The leaders explored new pathways for economic engagement under the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and discussed fresh opportunities emerging in Queensland’s trade and investment landscape.
The Brisbane 2032 Olympics featured prominently in the discussions, with Queensland Minister Andrew Powell — speaking on behalf of Opposition Leader David Crisafulli — outlining potential business and investment prospects connected to the global event.
In a practical showcase of sectoral collaboration, AIB Chair Con Livissianis presented case studies in education, announcing the launch of the Australia-India Traineeship Exchange Program in partnership with TAFE Queensland and the Trade Promotion Council of India. The initiative will focus on five key sectors: education, agriculture, sports, environment, and healthcare.
Kim Russell of the Stump Jump Foundation also shared insights on innovations in agriculture and agri-tech partnerships.
The seminar concluded with a business Q&A panel, followed by the launch of the book Innovate or Disintegrate, underlining the importance of innovation in sustaining bilateral business ties.
The event attracted strong participation from business leaders, diplomats, and policymakers, reinforcing AIB and AIBX’s vision of creating high-quality, tailored business solutions and fostering Indo-Australian partnerships.
The July 10 event builds on the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding signed with TAFE Queensland and highlights the growing relevance of bilateral cooperation in vocational training, entrepreneurship, and trade facilitation.
