South Australia Offers Clean Energy And Water To India

He had just returned from the water resource ministry's technology showcase event - India Water Week - being held here over Jan 13-17, where he proposed South Australian services in meetings with Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Uma Bharti, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh.

Hamilton-Smith said that his state was particularly well-placed to offer specialised water technologies following the expertise gained from what is described as the "millennium drought", that prevailed through the first decade of this century and was the worst on record for southeast Australia.

The minister is here also exploring South Australia's participation in developing the action plan for Ganga renewal and the role companies from his state can play in the process.

"South Australia is also keen to be part of the Clean Ganga plan that is particularly dear to Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Hamilton-Smith told IANS.

"I am returning to India in August with a trade mission which will include water companies. The water programme exchange can take place at three levels - between governments, between university to university and also on a commercial basis," he added.

On his fourth visit to this country, Hamilton-Smith is part of a massive 450-member Australian business delegation being led by the federal Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb.

Hamilton-Smith is going to Rajasthan to explore business ties with the state, which he said has climate and geography similar to South Australia. "We're trying to explore a relationship with Rajasthjan similar to that we have with the China's Shandong province," the minister said.