Media release
15 October 2009
Visit to India - Mumbai
Today, I visited Mumbai, India’s commercial capital, for the first time as Foreign Minister.
Last night I addressed a gathering of Australian and Indian business representatives based in Mumbai and discussed the booming bilateral trade and investment relationship. India is Australia’s fifth largest export market, and on track to be our third largest export market in a few years.
Today, I signed condolence books for the Taj Hotel and the Oberoi Hotels Group to remember the sacrifices and acts of heroism of staff at the Taj, Trident and Oberoi hotels, in the face of murderous terrorists who attacked Mumbai on 26 November 2008.
We remember also the lives lost in these savage attacks, which included two innocent Australians, Douglas Markell and Brett Taylor.
I visited the Saalam Baalak Trust drop-in centre for street children and presented them with soccer balls from Australia’s FIFA World Cup bid. At Mumbai’s famous Brabourne Cricket Stadium I inspected the latest purchase of the Australian invented ‘supersopper’ - the machine that has saved many a rain-affected cricket match from being abandoned.
At Mumbai’s H.R College of Commerce and Economics I had a wide-ranging discussion with faculty staff and students, including the Principal, Dr Indu Shahani (who also serves as the Sheriff of Mumbai). I later met the Governor of Maharastra State, His Excellency S.C. Jamir at his residence.
Tonight I presented a keynote speech on the Australia-India relationship at the Asia Society. I outlined the wide range of issues on which our respective values and interests converge.
Australia and India are working more closely in the fields of defence cooperation, counter-terrorism and non-proliferation. Cooperation is growing in energy security, climate change and food security. The trade and investment relationship continues to grow rapidly.
Australia and India’s shared outlook and our strengthening people-to-people links present a great opportunity to Australia for the relationship to become one of our front-rank bilateral relationships.
My second visit to India as Foreign Minister is the ninth visit by an Australian Minister since the beginning of 2008. In the same period, ten Indian Ministers have made visits to Australia.
- Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500
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