White Paper Asks Australian Government To Engage With India On Priority

MELBOURNE: Ahead of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's visit to India next month, a white paper submitted to the Australian government has sought early inking of an economic cooperation pact and urgent engagement with the new Indian government to reverse the dwindling bilateral trade.

Citing that there was an urgent need to reverse the declining trade with India which dropped by over 26 per cent between 2009 to 2013, the white paper titled 'The Australia- India Trade Relationship -- Past, Present and Future possibilities', sketched a blueprint for the federal government to take the bilateral relations to a higher level.

The white paper, a joint initiative of Australia India Business Council (AIBC) and Australia India Institute (AII), was presented to Prime Minister Abbott before his visit to India early next month.

The white paper has sought inking of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) on "top priority" and called for fast engagement with the new Narendra Modi-led government.

The white paper has suggested specific directions in which the government should proceed, breaking it industry-wise. It also provides information on Modi as a leader, his government's economic policies and its major goals for Australia to understand where and how to invest in the relationship.

The paper has been released before the two global leaders meet this year. Modi is expected to visit Brisbane for G20 summit in November this year after Abbott's visit next month.

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