New South Wales is posed to be the new face of Australia for India, according to Barry O'Farrell, Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Western Sydney Australia. Speaking to Business Standard, Farrell said that partnerships in the field of infrastructure, finance, sports and education are being worked out.
"A 30 member delegation trade delegation from New South Wales is here in India to give a glimpse of the array of opportunities that we offer," he said. Farrell added that modern trade investment is all about partnerships and the Conferederation of Indian Industry was visiting Sydney to explore the opportunities.
Farrell said that there has been a good response from Indian companies, adding that he had held meetings with Anand Sharma, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry and Adi Godrej, chairman of the Godrej Group of Industries. Infrastructure is also an area where New South Wales is looking for Indian partners. The premier said that they were looking for investors for their state infrastructure projects. Also, he added that engineering and construction companies from New South Wales were looking to partner with India.
Terming the ban on uranium sale to India by Australia as 'stupid', Farrell said that he was hoping the government would take necessary measures to end the ban. "I believe that when the new government is elected in Australia, the ban will be lifted, though i want the existing government to make the change," he said.
Education is also a crucial sector that New South Wales is promoting. Though Farrell said that the memory of the past attacks on Indian students would last for a long time, he explained that the issue has been sorted. "New South Wales is an extremely safe place for the Indian students and we (New South Wales) cannot be held liable for the past incidents in other states," commented the premier.
Farell also informed that the Mumbai Cricket Association and Cricket New South Wales would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mumbai tomorrow for greater collaborations between the two associations. Apart from the exchange of coaching techniques and facilities between the two partners, the MoU will concentrate on the partnership between the two nations, especially on the sports injuries that take place. "We want your cricketers to have long careers," he concluded.