122/05
24 October 2005

Strengthening ICT Links with India

Australia and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Delhi last week to promote further cooperation between the two countries in developing their information and communications technology (ICT) industries and to strengthen the bilateral relationship and business linkages in ICT.

The signing of the MoU is part of the activities of a high-level ICT industry delegation to India led by the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan.

The visit between 20 and 28 October 2005 includes a range of industry visits and attendance at the BangaloreIT.in 2005 industry trade fair.

“ India, like Australia, makes a substantial investment in ICT. This MoU is a formal expression at government to government level of our mutual desire to foster the good relationship between our two countries,” Senator Coonan said.

“The MoU recognises the important role of business to business contacts in progressing our relationship.”

The MoU covers cooperation in activities including e-government, e-commerce, e‑learning, IT security, Internet applications, advanced communications technologies and software and multimedia content development.

An Australia-India government and industry joint working group, established to implement the MoU, held its first meeting in Delhi on 21 October.

The MoU runs for four years, to October 2009, and extends the relationship established under a former MoU signed in 2000.

“I look forward to building on our very successful relationship for the mutual benefit of Australia and India.”

The Special Minister of State for e‑government, Senator the Hon Eric Abetz, will take forward any bilateral action for the application of e-government around leadership, management capacity and ICT security in the government sector between Australia and India.