External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday inaugurated India’s new Consulate General in Brisbane and stressed that it will help strengthen India’s ties with the state of Queensland, boost trade and serve the expatriate community.
Jaishankar reached Australia on Sunday in the first leg of his two-nation tour, from where he will travel to Singapore.
Jaishankar wrote on social media platform ‘X’, “Today I am happy to formally inaugurate the new Consulate General of India in Brisbane. It will contribute to strengthening India’s ties with the state of Queensland, promote trade, encourage educational ties and serve the expatriate community. “Thank you to the Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency Dr. Janet Young, and Ministers Ross Bates and Fiona Simpson for attending the opening ceremony.”
Jaishankar said the inauguration of the new consulate is a milestone in the rapidly strengthening bilateral ties and an acknowledgment of the growing importance of the Australian state of Queensland, which “holds a key place in our growing relationship in many ways.”
In fact, of the approximately one million people of Indian origin living in Australia, about 100,000 live in Queensland, which is India’s second largest export market.
India is Australia’s sixth largest trading partner and bilateral trade between the two countries is expected to grow from $22.2 billion in 2021 to $31.4 billion in 2022, showing a growth of 41%.
India’s exports to Australia during this period increased by 38% to $8.7 billion in 2021 from $6.3 billion. By July 2024, Queensland’s exports to India were expected to reach $4.5 billion, while its imports were worth $375 million. However, India’s share in Queensland’s total global exports was only 3.95%, valued at $113.8 billion.
This is the fourth Consulate General of India in Australia. Apart from Brisbane, India also has consulates in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
The External Affairs Minister also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at ‘Roma Street Parklands’ in Brisbane on Monday.
Jaishankar wrote on ‘X’, “His (Mahatma Gandhi’s) message of peace and harmony resonates across the world.”
Jaishankar also met the Governor of Queensland in Brisbane on Monday. “Delighted to meet Her Excellency Dr. Janet Young, Governor of Queensland, in Brisbane today,” he wrote on ‘X’. Discussed opportunities and ways to strengthen economic, trade and investment cooperation with the State of Queensland.” Jaishankar will also co-chair the 15th Foreign Ministers Framework Dialogue (FMFD) in Canberra with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
He will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session of the second ‘Raisina Down Under’ to be held at the Australian Parliament House.
He is also scheduled to interact with Australian leadership, parliamentarians, business community, media and intellectuals.
From Australia, Jaishankar will go to Singapore, where he will address the 8th Round Table Conference of the ASEAN-India ‘Think Tank Network’. He will also meet leaders of Singapore to review the close partnership between the two countries.
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