Significance of Indo-Australian & India-Pacific Islands

Cooperation
Introduction
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arrived in Australia for a five day tour on 14 Nov 2014.
His Australia visit per se was preceded by the G20 Summit held on 15-16 Nov at
Brisbane.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Australia in 28
years since Rajiv Gandhi in 1986. The importance of promoting Indo-Aus bilateral
cooperation and strategic partnership in various spheres cannot be overemphasised.
Significance of Indo-Australian Cooperation
Two way trade between India and Australia at present stands at $15 billion, which is
expected to grow to $40 billion by 2025.
India is the largest source of students to Australia, which is currently about 30,000 and
the total of 450,000 Australians of India origin live in that country.
During his four-day trip Indian PM travelled to Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne,
signalling an interest in expanding bilateral ties and strengthening strategic ties.
India and Australia inked five MoUs in the areas of social security, transfer of sentenced
prisoners, counter-narcotics, culture and tourism.
The Social Security Agreement signed by the two countries will not only address hurdles
faced by Indian professionals in Australia and vice versa but also help reduce costs of
Australian businesses in India.
Australia accounts for one third of total recoverable Uranium of the world and exports
70000 tons every year. A civil nuclear deal was signed by India with Australia during the
visit of Australian PM Tony Abbott to India in the first week of September 2014.
The following major deals were signed during the visit of PM Abbott to India in
September 2014:
Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy The agreement will
promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is
essentially required by India to achieve sustainable development and strengthen
energy security.

Australia can play the role of long-term reliable supplies of uranium to India. It
provides for supply of uranium, production of radio isotopes, nuclear safety and
other areas of cooperation.
MOU on Cooperation in Sports This will promote exchange of programmes,
experience, skills, techniques and knowledge in the field of Sports.
It will facilitate exchanges of sports personnel, coaches and officials as well as of
training and technologies.
PM Modi is exploring cricket diplomacy during his tour to Australia by asking ace
cricketers, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev to accompany him for the visit.
Renewal of MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Water Resources
Management- This will promote sharing of policy and technical experiences in
the water resources, particularly river basin management. Australian assistance
may be solicited under this agreement for Ganga cleaning project in terms of
obtaining data of the river basin.
It will encourage familiarisation of best practices and technologies developed by
each side and for exchange of information and training. A JWG will coordinate
the activities.
MOU on Cooperation in Technical Vocational Education and Training
(TVET)- Promotes exchange of information and policy ideas in TVET systems,
joint implementation of collaborative projects and facilitating links between
governments, industry organizations, TVET bodies.
The focus will be to share experience and policy to build work force that is skilled
and globally productive. The skills will promote broader cooperation including
greater access to skilled labour across the region.
PM Narendra Modis Schedule after Conclusion of G20 Summit
16 Nov 2014: After the conclusion of G20 Summit, PM Modi addressed a programme to
unveil a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane,
Queensland.
Indian PM also met the premier of the hosting State, Queensland, who has promised to
commit funds in mega Indian coal mining project in Galilee Basin, being pursued by
Indian tycoon Gautam Adani and Indian conglomerate, GVK, to mine vast amounts of
coal in the Galilee Basin.
17 Nov 2014: Indo-Australian Community Reception for Narendra Modi in
Allphones Arena, Sydney by a gathering of approximately 15000 to 20000 people of
India origin. The following were the highlights of his address at Sydney:

Promised People of Indian origin lifelong visa.

Skilled workforce across the world needs to be mapped. For example, nursing,
maths-science teachers are required; so, we need HRD focus to prepare for the
needs of the world for apt employment of Indias unmatched youth power.

Highlighted his pet campaigns like Jan Dhan Yojna, Make in India and Swatch
Bharat Abhiyan.

November 18: Narendra Modi addressed Australian Parliament in Canberra, which

actually was the first ever instance when an Indian Prime Minister had addressed their
Parliament. The following were the highlights/ fallouts of his address:

PM Modi called Australia a major partner in various initiatives being undertaken/

proposed in India, like educating the youth, connecting electricity to every house
and giving shelter to the underprivileged.

Australian PM promised to sign aFree Trade Agreement with India within the
next 13 months. Incidentally, a Free Trade Agreement, between Australia and
USA was inked after the G20 Summit 2014.

Five important MOUs were signed on social security, combating narcotics

security, cooperation in the field of arts and tourism.

Fast tracking of the implementation of the Civil Nuclear Deal signed between the
two Prime Ministers during the visit of Australian PM to India in September 2014.

A new Security Cooperation Framework was agreed upon to ensure closer

bilateral collaboration across defence, counter-terrorism, cyber policy,
disarmament and non-proliferation and maritime security.

Also, it was decided that there would be a regular conduct of maritime exercises
and regularly armed forces staff interactions and exchanges would be convened.

Prime Ministers of both nations would have a meeting once a year to assess the
progress on the ongoing bilateral cooperation initiatives.

Finally, PM Modi highlighted the immense economic opportunities offered to

Australia by the Indian youth power waiting to be harnessed, diversity of
resources and a new democratic setup promising to provide an environment
conducive for businesses to flourish.

Narendra Modi addressed Australian businessmen in Melbourne. While interacting

with the Australian CEOs, PM Modi discussed important issues of education, services,
energy, banking & IT. He highlighted the following:

Indias greatest strength is that 65% of its population is below 35 years of age,
said PM Modi. This young workforce, after being appropriately skilled can be
gainfully employed to optimise results of the envisaged projects.

PM drew the attention of the Australian CEOs towards the opportunities in the
tourism sector of India. He explained the immense scope that India offered for
investments in tourism infrastructure.

He also remarked that Asia Pacific is looking forward to working with the
government and the people of Australia and to energise the planned economic
cooperation, reforms were being undertaken in India to enhance ease of doing
businesses.

He said that Indian General Elections indicated peoples high aspirations and his
government was very actively working towards reviving the economy.

PM Modi assured the CEOs that India will build world class ports and develop
inland waterways to facilitate surface communication to draw foreign investment
flow.

He said that the Indian government was committed to promoting labour intensive
manufacturing and has already launched the Make in India program for growth
of manufacture within the country.

Latter, PM Modi spoke at the reception hosted by the Australian PM at Melbourne

Cricket Ground. He effectively used cricket diplomacy by drawing appropriate
cricketing analogies at various forums, including his address at Australian Parliament in
Canberra, to forge better ties between the two nations.
PM Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Tony Abbot posed for photographs
with the 2015 Cricket World Cup Trophy, along with former Indian captain Sunil
Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, VVS Laxman, Alan Border and others.
Finally, he thanked PM of Australia and said that, though my memorable visit would
end tonight, but journey of our relationship has begun.
Visit to Fiji Islands
November 19: Narendra Modi arrived in Fiji, for bilateral interaction with his counterpart
Mr Frank Bainimarama, address parliament and also meet leaders and representatives
of 14 Pacific Island nations, (Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati, Vanuatu,
Solomon Islands, Samoa, Niue, Palau, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Fiji and Papua
New Guinea.).

Fiji was a British colony and it transitioned into a harmonious multi-ethnic democracy
in1971. Fiji has had a history of coups; in 1987, 2000 and 2006 elected governments
were toppled by people unwilling to accept the legitimate government.
Talking about some stats, Fiji is located some 11,500 km away from India. Indians form
37 per cent (9 lacs) of Fijis population while the indigenous Fijians are 54 per cent.
PM Narendra Modi happens to be the second PM to visit Fiji islands after Mrs Indira
Gandhi, who visited Fiji in 1981 (33 years earlier).
The significance for forging better ties with the Pacific Island nations may be understood
from the fact that, the Chinese President Xi Jinping will also be visiting the Pacific
nations on 21 Nov 2014, right on the heels of the Indian Prime Ministers visit.
Indian PMs Address of the Fiji Parliament

Proposed that Fiji could serve as a hub for stronger Indian engagement with the
Pacific Islands.

Prime Minister announced visa on arrival for Fijians.

Both sides agreed to consult more closely on international issues of mutual

interest, including international trade, climate change, United Nations
Peacekeeping and UN reforms.

Both sides also agreed to expand trade and investments and also closely engage
in areas like information technology and Space applications.

Three MoUs were signed during this visit; first one, for the exchange of land for a
new chancery building in New Delhi, second MoU, on diplomatic exchanges to
allow Fijian diplomats to train in India, and third MoU, on project financing for an
electricity co-generation plant funded through the Exim Bank of India.

Prime Minister Bainimarama said some 15 more agreements on agriculture,

trade, health, water and sports were being considered.

Indian PM promised assistance in defence training and capacity building of Fiji.

He also promised to provide a Line of Credit of 70 million dollars for a cogeneration power plant at Rarav Sugar Mill. And, another Line of Credit of 5
million dollars for upgrading the sugar industry in Fiji.

PM committed a fund of $5 million to promote small business and village

enterprises in Fiji.

Indian PM also proposed increased cooperation in renewable energy, especially

solar and wind energy, and in building capacity to adapt to climate change.

India also would share experience and expertise in disaster management and
response.

PMs Address at Pacific Island Leaders Meeting

Proposed many steps for closer cooperation, including visa on arrival for all and
an e-network to connect the islands to provide tele-medicine and tele-education.

He announced a Special Adaptation Fund of $1 million to provide technical

assistance and training for capacity building to the Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu,
Nauru, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Niue, Palau, Micronesia,
Marshall Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

He announced a hike in Grant-in-Aid from $125,000 to $200,000 annually to

each island for community projects selected by them and a trade office of the
Pacific Island nations in New Delhi.

Modi proposed that, the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) be
held on a regular basis and that the next meeting could be held in 2015 in a
coastal location in India.

Conclusion
Substantial Indian Diasporas, in the South Pacific island nations can serve as an
important base around which New Delhi can swivel its interests to enhance its reach
and effectively assert its influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Prime Minister Modi has been on the move, visiting and promoting ties with various
nations since he assumed the responsibility of PM. In fact his critics, like Lalu Prasad
Yadav has labelled him as the NRI Prime Minister.
Notwithstanding the radical critique of his actions, the indelible marks that Prime
Minister Modi is leaving on the canvas of global politics are unmatched. He is sending
the right worldwide signals for offering viable opportunities and creating conducive
environment for doing business with India. Besides, projecting India as a major regional
power, the ongoing bonhomie with nations that matter will secure our national interests
and catapult the nation to new heights.