Australian MP for strengthening ties with India

Updated on: Saturday, May 12, 2012

On a two-day visit to Delhi, Australia’s minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP admitted that migration aids build ties between Australia and India. Bowen met a number of senior Indian ministers including P Chidambaram, union minister for home affairs and Kapil Sibal, union minister for Human Resource Development at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on May 2. The focus included migration opportunities between India and Australia and shared interests in promoting greater regional cooperation regarding border management.

Addressing senior Indian and Australian business representatives, government officials and media at FICCI, Bowen said, “Our [Australia and India] interests are converging like never before.  This is being driven by trade complementarities, rising investments, common geo strategic outlooks and closer multilateral cooperation. It is also driven by significant business relationships, rich people-to-people links and a common heritage that will continue to bring our two countries closer together.”
 
He added, “Education presents one of the most valuable opportunities for both countries to lay the foundation for an enduring partnership. It presents enormous opportunities to deepen collaboration between institutions across the education and training sectors, business and industry, and our governments.”
 
As of June 2010, there were 340600 India-born people living in Australia, equivalent to 5.7 per cent of Australia’s overseas born population. However Bowen revealed that the “2011-12 figures to date show India is the largest source of permanent migrants to Australia, ahead of both the UK and China.”
 
Bowen also emphasised on the value Australia placed upon the participation of Indian students in Australia’s student visa program and higher education sector. He provided an update on the recent changes made to Australia’s student visa program emerging from the Knight Review, and highlighted the benefits to Indian applicants under the improved streamlined visa arrangements.
 
Bowen is scheduled to visit Vayalar Ravi, India’s minister for Overseas Indian Affairs to take forward shared interests concerning the welfare of Indian nationals in Australia and progress discussions regarding a mobility partnership on people movements between the two countries.

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