Austrade and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) along with the Australia India Business Council (AIBC) organized a 'Women in Business' meet in Sydney. This gathering was attended by leading women entrepreneurs and businesswomen from the Indian diaspora and focused on 'The Future of the Australia-India Economic Relationship'. This meeting was part of the 'India Economic Strategy to 2035 Road Show' that is being organized by the Australian High Commissioner Her Excellency Harinder Sidhu and Austrade in conjunction with AIBC Women in Business (WIB) chapter.
At the event, the Australian High Commissioner to India, Harinder Sidhu, emphasized the importance of the Australia - India relationship in economic and strategic terms. She mentioned that India is going to grow and will be an important market for Australia. Making a mention of the depth of the strategic relationship between the two countries, Ms Sandhu said that forums like the quadrilateral security dialogue and military exercises happen when there is a high degree of trust.
Ms Sandhu also spoke about the importance of women role models and shared a heartening personal anecdote.
"An Indian employee once came in as a contractor to work at the Australian High Commission in Delhi. When she met me she said that she had never thought that a woman can also be a High Commissioner but that I had inspired her to sit for the foreign services exams. That really touched me." 
Australia India Business Council (AIBC) National Chair Sheba Nandkeolyar said that she strongly believes in encouraging women to lead and own businesses in the bilateral business and trade space.
AIBC WIB meet in Sydney Source: SBS
"This will certainly impact the bilateral relationship positively. Women in business can contribute significantly to the bilateral trade relationship and play a crucial and critical role in driving the Australia India engagement."
Dr Meena Chavan, Program Director, Masters in International Business, Macquarie University said that the Government of Australia was benefitting from Indian students.
"90% of students in the Master of Management programme at Macquarie University are from India. 60% of Post Graduate students in the Faculty of Business and Economics at Macquarie University are from India."
Women in Business meet in Sydney -(pic Pallavi Sinha) Source: Pallavi Sinha
Speaking about the need to draw from the inputs provided by successful women entrepreneurs, AIBC NSW Vice-President Pallavi Sinha said that it is important to ensure that this dialogue is ongoing and focused on positive outcomes for the bilateral trade relationship between Australia and India.
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