In a milestone moment for bilateral economic cooperation, the Canberra Business Chamber and the Australia India Business Council (AIBC) have officially signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aimed at deepening trade and investment ties between Australia and India.
The agreement was formalised by Deepak-Raj Gupta OAM, National Chair of AIBC, and Greg Harford, CEO of the Canberra Business Chamber, in a ceremony hosted at JAGA WORKSPACES, Canberra. The signing represents a significant step toward creating new pathways for business collaboration, innovation, and strategic partnerships across sectors.
Australia and India have long enjoyed a robust economic relationship, and this MOU signifies a proactive step to further harness that potential, particularly at the local and regional business level. With over 35,000 members, the Canberra Business Chamber plays a key role in shaping the ACT’s business ecosystem. Meanwhile, AIBC stands as one of the most influential bilateral chambers working to expand Australia-India trade and investment.
Commenting on the partnership, Deepak-Raj Gupta OAM stated:
“This MOU is not just a document – it’s a commitment. A commitment to collaboration, to expanding horizons for our businesses, and to creating lasting connections between our two great nations.”
Greg Harford echoed that sentiment, saying:
“We are thrilled to partner with AIBC to bring real value to our members and to play a role in deepening Australia-India relations from the ground up.”
By combining the strengths, networks, and resources of both organisations, the agreement is set to offer practical benefits to businesses across both countries.
This forward-thinking collaboration is built around four strategic pillars:
Reciprocal Valued Memberships: Businesses within both organisations will now have broader access to resources, networks, and business opportunities, thanks to mutual membership benefits.- Co-Promotion of Initiatives: Each organisation will actively promote and support the other’s events, ensuring greater visibility and deeper engagement from both communities.
- Collaborative Trade Events: The two bodies will work together on trade-related events, with members enjoying exclusive discounts, preferred access, and participation in high-impact industry engagements.
- Co-Branding Opportunities: By leveraging their shared networks and platforms, the Chamber and AIBC will explore co-branded initiatives aimed at amplifying their collective reach and economic impact.
Importantly, this MOU is not a standalone initiative. It is the first in a series of partnerships AIBC plans to develop with other state-based business chambers across Australia. The goal is to build a national framework that consistently promotes bilateral engagement and enables small-to-medium businesses to scale their presence in both the Indian and Australian markets.
As Australia and India continue to expand their economic engagement through agreements like the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), this local partnership adds vital momentum at the grassroots level.
Together, the Canberra Business Chamber and AIBC are setting a benchmark for how local and national organisations can work together to realise the full potential of international cooperation — one business, one opportunity, and one connection at a time.
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