The Australian Government promoted business and investment opportunities between Australia and India in the mining sector at the Australia—India Mining Business Forum in Kolkata on 4 December.
The Forum was held as part of Oz Fest – the biggest Australian cultural, business and education festival ever staged in India.
Australia’s Acting High Commissioner to India, Dr Lachlan Strahan, said “Australia’s partnership with India in the mining and resourses sector is growing repadly. We have a lot to offer each other.”
“Today in Kolkata, leaders from both countries in the mining, resources, finance and research sectors came together at the Australia—India Mining Business Forum to drive these industry partnerships into the future” he added.
Companies such as Adani Enterprises, Rio Tinto, GVK Industries and Westpac Banking Corporation participated in the forum alongside CRIRO Australia, the Indian Institute of Skills Development, Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Construction Skills Queensland.
The Premier of Queensland, Hon Campbell Newman MP, spoke at the Forum and said “There are many good reasons to invest in Australia, and in Queensland in particular.”
“Australia is a world leader in METS—the development and manufacture of mining equipment, technology and services. Our firms are competitive right across the supply chain” he added.
The Australia—India Mining Business Forum coincided with the 11th International Mining and Machinery Exhibition-IMME 2012—where 25 Australian companies showcased a broad range of Australian mining technology and expertise.
The Australian Trade Commission, the Australian Government’s trade and investment development agency, organized this Oz Fest Business Forum and Australia’s participation in IMME 2012.
Australia—World’s Best Mining Practice
Australia is a world leader in the global minerals industry with abundant and diverse mineral resources, skilled mining industry professionals and cutting edge extraction and processing technologies.
Australia has the world’s largest reserves of brown coal, mineral sands (rutile and zircon), nickel, lead, silver, uranium, iron ore and zinc: second largest reserves of bauxite and tantalum: third largest reserves of copper; and fourth largest reserves of silver.
Australia’s expertise in the mining sector is recognized in the Indian mining sector. Both nations are working together to meet India’s energy and resource needs. Australia’s expertise spans the entire mining value chain from exploration to decommissioning.
Australian mining expertise and technology is available for the Indian mining industry in mineral exploration, mine engineering and construction, mine development. Mine extraction, mine operations, contract mining, ore processing, environmental management, clean coal and mining related research, and education and training.
Investing in the Australian Mining Sector
Australia is a significant mining investment destination. Unprecedented demand for commodities from the Asia-Pacific region has driven high levels of investment in minerals exploration and development projects in Australia with an investment pipeline of A$430 billion (22·79 lac crores). This expanding market potential is backed by Australia’s highly developed infrastructure, skilled workforce and strong focus on R&D and innovation, which make Australia an ideal destination for overseas investors to establish operations.
Some of India’s leading companies including Adani, GVK Industries, Aditya Birla, the Tata Group, Reliance Industries, Bhushan Steel and Jindal Steel have invested in the Australian mining sector and related supply chains.
Australia—India Mining Business Forum
The Australia—India Mining Business Forum focused on the trends, business and investment opportunities in the Australian mining sector; Australia’s world class mining technology and services; Australian expertise for skills development in the mining sector in India; and the value-add of the Australian mining sector for the development and growth of the Indian mining sector.
Key participants at the Forum included:
- The Honourable Campbell Newman MP, Premier of Queensland
- Mr Harsh Misra, Group President, International Business, Adani Enterprises
- Dr MK Prem Kumar, Director – External Relations, Rio Tinto India
- Mr Justin Smirk, Senior Economint, Westpac Banking Corporation
- Mr Mudit Parashar, Senior Vice President – Corporate Development, GVK Industries
- Mr Amit Narain, Manager – Rio Tinto Procurement, Rio Tinto
- Mr Wayne Robertson, Business Development and Commercialisation, CSIRO Australia
- Mr KB Trehan, Director, Indian Institute of Skills Development
- Mr Sourav Daspatnaik, Regional President (East) and National Board Member, National HRD Network and Chairperson, Skill Development Task Force, Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Mr Brett Schimming, CEO, Construction Skills Queensland
- Ms Kylie Bell, Investment Commissioner – India, Australian Trade Commission
- Mr Tom Calder, Trade Commissioner, Australian Trade Commission
Oz Fest
The Australia—India Mining Forum is part of Oz Fest – the biggest Australian cultural festival ever staged in India. Oz Fest was launched in New Delhi by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on 16 October and will rul untin 6 February 2013.
The Australian Government is delivering Oz Fest with 24 partner across 18 Indian cities between October 2012 and February 2013. Oz Fest will showcase the creativity, dynamism and diversity of Australian culture including music and performing arts, visual art and design, film, literature and ideas, sport and food.
Oz Fest is the Australia International Culture Council’s focus country program for 2012.
For more information about Oz Fest, visit www.ozfestindia.com