The outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Australia Dr AM Gondane has urged the Indian community living in Australia to enrich the Australian milieu.
Mr Gondane is farewelling Australia with great memories.
“Three years have gone by quickly. I have seen some significant developments in bilateral relations between India and Australia," Mr Gondane said in a special conversation with SBS Hindi in Syndey on Monday.
"I had started here in 2016, and in April 2017 the then Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull visited India. Many trade agreements were signed during this visit. Many agreements were also signed when our President His Excellency Shri Ramnath Kovind visited Australia in November last year,” said Dr Gondane.
In 2014, India-Australia bilateral trade was at $18 bn which has now grown to almost $30 bn in 2019.
Mr Gondane hopes in coming years Australian investment grows in India.
“I was working continuously to increase Australian investment in India. Indian economy is expanding, and I want Australians should also partake in this expansion. That, in my opinion, has not reached its optimum level, though,” he said.
“Some significant investments were made recently, such as Macquarie University invested $2 bn in India. Recently there was an investment of $1 bn in India Infrastructure fund. So there are examples, but it could have been much more," he added.
On a parting note, Dr Gondane says Indians living in Australia should enrich the Australia milieu.
“This country has embraced Indians with open arms. Indians should return the favour by contributing to the economy and society. If you are in regional areas and find the scarcity of jobs there, show your entrepreneurship and create jobs instead of running away to the bigger cities,” Dr Gondane said as his ‘last request to the Indian community’ in Australia.
