Melbourne played host to a bilateral engagement this week as the Australia India Business Council (AIBC) hosted the “Passage to India – Shaping Future Partnerships: Opportunities for Australian Businesses with the Make in India Initiative.”
The high-impact forum, jointly delivered by the AIBC Make with India Industry Chapter and AIBC Victoria, was held with the backing of the Consulate General of India in Melbourne.
AIBC National Chair, Deepak-Raj Gupta OAM, emphasised the council’s long-standing efforts to strengthen trade links.
“Passage to India is more than a business forum – it’s a bridge for our shared future. Australian businesses now have a front-row seat to India’s growth story, and AIBC is here to guide that journey.”
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Designed to align with India’s ambitious ‘Make in India’ initiative and Australia’s growing trade aspirations, the event explored concrete partnership opportunities across critical sectors including Critical Minerals, Smart Manufacturing, and Aerospace Technologies. It reinforced the strong bilateral frameworks under the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), as well as Victoria’s increasing engagement with India.
In his keynote, Dr Sushil Kumar, Consul General of India, Melbourne, said,
“The India-Australia relationship is entering a golden era, where trade, technology, and trust are at the forefront. Initiatives like these create the environment for real outcomes across both economies.”
The event saw powerful insights from leaders across academia, business, and government, including Tim Thomas (CEO, Centre for Australia-India Relations), Prof Veena Sahajwalla (UNSW), and several tech and industry experts and Invest India.
Louise McGrath Head of Industry Development and Policy at Australian Industry Group highlighted the urgency of value-added supply chains.
“Australia cannot just be the quarry of the world. The future lies in processing and advanced manufacturing – and India is a natural partner in this journey,” she said. She also emphasised the importance of policy alignment and standards harmonisation to facilitate smoother collaboration.
Chair of the Make with India Chapter, Narasimhan Viswanathan talked about the right timing and stressed saying no better time than now.
“The momentum is undeniable. We are seeing real interest and collaboration potential in advanced manufacturing and critical supply chains.”
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A standout segment of the “Passage to India” forum was the engaging panel discussion on Critical Minerals, Advanced Manufacturing, and Aerospace, masterfully moderated by Mr Mohan Yellishetty from the Australia India Critical Minerals Research Hub, who set the stage by emphasising the urgency for collaborative innovation.
“India and Australia are uniquely placed to build a secure, ethical and sustainable critical minerals supply chain. The question is not ‘if’, but ‘how fast we can move’,”
he said.
The session delved into how bilateral collaboration can unlock untapped potential across these high-impact sectors, especially with India’s growing demand for clean energy materials and Australia’s mineral-rich capabilities.
Tech entrepreneur Preetham A. Akula of AKULA Tech opened the discussion with an industry perspective, stating, “Startups are nimble and ready to scale – especially in critical technologies.”
“With India’s push for self-reliance and Australia’s tech talent, we can build future-facing solutions together.”
Warren Wickman, CEO of Metallicum Minerals Corporation (MMC) spoke about commercial opportunities and on-the-ground challenges. “India’s industrial ambition is matched by its scale – but infrastructure and regulatory clarity will be key.”
“Australian companies must look beyond exports to co-developing tech with Indian partners in aerospace and defence sectors,”
Wickman added.
UNSW’s Mark Sterbic brought an academic lens to the discussion, advocating for innovation ecosystems. “Universities can be the conduit between research and real-world applications. Joint centres for aerospace innovation are not only possible, they’re needed,” he noted, urging industry and government to invest in bilateral R&D.
Chris Bevan, Executive Chair of Metallicum Minerals Corporation (MMC), added,
“India’s scale, coupled with Australia’s raw materials and technical know-how, can drive unprecedented growth across aerospace and clean energy industries.”
Moderator Yellishetty summarised the session with optimism, saying, “The synergies are not theoretical – they’re real. With clear policy and industry momentum, Australia and India can become global leaders in the sustainable supply of critical minerals and cutting-edge technologies.”
And let’s not forget — this was a lunch-on event, so naturally, the networking was matched by some top-notch noshing. Delegates enjoyed not just being intellectually enriched but also being well-fed, proving once again that good ideas flow best when paired with great food.
The noon was seamlessly steered by Kiren Chitkara, Company Secretary of AIBC, whose poised and professional emceeing ensured the forum maintained its engaging rhythm throughout. Her role was pivotal in guiding the dialogue between industry leaders, policymakers, and academics, contributing to the event’s overall success and clarity of purpose.
In her closing address, Radhika Kanhai, President of the AIBC Victoria Chapter, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all dignitaries, speakers, and stakeholders.
“This event reflects what AIBC stands for — forging meaningful partnerships. Our success today is a testimony to what collaboration between state, industry, and diaspora can achieve,”
she said.
Ms Kanhai’s remarks reinforced the importance of continued cooperation between Australia and India and the critical role AIBC plays in nurturing these bilateral business relationships.
As Australia and India deepen their economic and strategic ties, forums like ‘Passage to India’ are key in shaping an inclusive, innovation-driven trade future. The AIBC reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating ongoing dialogue, business development, and investment aligned with mutual growth goals.
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