Senator the Hon Helen Coonan

Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts

BangaloreIT Address to delegates and exhibitors at the inaugural BangaloreIT

Bangalore

Wednesday 26 October 2005

I am delighted to be here today at the inaugural BangaloreIT. Thank you especially to the Chief Minister, Mr Singh.

It is a great honour to be invited to this significant information technology industry event.

High-level Australian ICT delegation visit

I am a great fan of India, and I always enjoy visiting your country, but of course on this visit I am here on a very important mission.

I have come to India leading a delegation of Australian business and research leaders, to promote trade and business linkages between our two countries, and to build on our existing friendship.

Over the last week my delegation and I have visited New Delhi and Mumbai and seen some of the enormous potential that exists for Australia to become a partner with India and not just a customer.

Information technology has flattened and shrunk the globe and created potential for countries.

In this new environment, Australia and India can combine our business strengths, overcome our shortcomings, and compete together on the world stage.

Several Australian companies are showcasing their impressive capabilities at this very impressive exhibition today.

I would urge you to visit the stands from our States of Victoria and Western Australia, and consider what Australian businesses have to offer.

As an Australian Minister I am obviously very proud of the Australian technology on display here today, but I am also very enthusiastic to learn more about the very significant IT achievements of our Indian hosts.

Australia/India ICT connections

India is one of the world’s key ICT powers, especially in the development of software and in providing back office services.

For some years now, India has been one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

Indian ICT companies such as Birlasoft Australia, Infosys Technologies, Mahindra-British Telecom, HCL, and Tata Consultancy Services are making their marks in the Australian economy.

And likewise, Australian ICT firms such as ANZ IT, Modular Mining Systems, Surpac Software and ADC Krone are well established in India.

The presence, in Australia, of prominent Indian firms is evidence of the attractiveness of the Australian economy and the strength of Indian business.

Australia has a strong economy, an excellent quality of life, a healthy democracy and a stable legal system.

Australia has consistently been a strong performer compared with other developed economies, even in more uncertain and volatile times.

Our productivity growth, at just under two per cent a year, is among the highest in the developed world.

And Australia has shown itself to be a keen adopter of new technological opportunities.

Just recently, the World Economic Forum recognised Australia as among the top ten most economically competitive nations in the world.

So we are producing more than talented cricketers and coaches!

Australia has a highly educated and skilled workforce, advanced infrastructure and excellent research and development facilities.

We actively seek foreign investment proposals—some 99 per cent of which are approved. And Australia is now India’s eighth largest overseas investor with more than A$1 billion approved for around 140 joint ventures.

As I have travelled around India on this visit I have observed that Australia and India have many complementary ICT abilities, with opportunities in research and development, joint ICT ventures and investment.

There are also powerful opportunities for our two countries to collaborate on the provision of ICT related education and training.

In 2004, India was the fourth highest source of international students in Australia with around 21,000 students.

Indeed, Australia is now the third largest supplier of offshore, post-graduate education to India.

I hope this relationship will grow, benefiting both our countries and building the vitally important people to people links that are the foundation of a strong trading relationship.

Again, I would like to thank you for the invitation to visit BangaloreIT today.

I am confident that the event will be an outstanding success and I wish everyone involved in BangaloreIT the greatest of success.

Thank you.