Queensland sets up trade forum in Bangalore

The Queensland government, Australia, has set up a trade forum in Bangalore to increase bilateral trade between the two centres.

Announcing this in Bangalore on Wednesday, P G R Sindhia, Karnataka minister of industries, infrastructure and airports, said Bangalore had lots to offer Queensland in terms of information technology manpower, while Queensland could throw open to Karnataka its vast natural resources.

"This trade forum will help greater interaction between Karnataka and Queensland," Sindhia said.

Premier of Queensland and minister for trade Peter Beattie said while Queensland may not match Bangalore in IT skills, its world class coal and wool puts it in a different league.

"One area where we can work together is water management. Karnataka and Queensland facing water shortage and hence there should be greater co-operation in this regard," Beattie said.

FKCCI president M N Suresh said tourism was a sector where much could be done in Karnataka.

"We have a long coastal belt, ideally suited for development of beaches and sea resorts. Karnataka also has sufficient mineral resources like iron ore and manganese. The newly-established trade centre can work towards economic cooperation in sectors like tourism, information technology, agriculture, mining and urban development," he said.

On Tuesday, two MoUs were signed "" one between the Institute of Hotel Management, Bangalore, and South Bank Institute, Queensland, and another between the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore.