India PM Narendra Modi to Address Australian Parliament During Visit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to address Australia's parliament during his visit on November 16-18. This is the first visit to Australia by an Indian prime minister in the last 28 years.
Modi is expected to get similar reactions in Australia like what he got in New York in September. Thousands of members of the local Indians greeted Modi like a rock star at the Madison Square Garden. India's foreign ministry said on Monday that at least 15,000 people from the Indian community in Sydney would be expected to attend a major event held by Modi. It was also confirmed that Modi would address the parliament in Canberra. Modi's visit to Australia has been termed by India's foreign ministry as a "historic" one as India aims to "re-engage" Australia in trading. Courier Mail reported that India and Australia had signed a long-awaited nuclear energy agreement when Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott visited India in September.
Modi is scheduled to interact with Australian business leaders and CEOs in four events. A select audience is going to witness a special reception held by the Australian premier at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. India earlier said that certain controversial issues like Indian students suffering racist attacks in Australia were resolved. According to India's foreign ministry, it was a phase when Indian students faced racist attacks in the country. It is no longer an issue between the countries, it said.
Meanwhile, Business Insider reported about Shivaramakrishnan Ramamoorthy, an Indian student studying at the University of Sydney. The Masters in Management student gave a few suggestions to both the national leaders to have better relations between the countries. Ramamoorthy has individual suggestions for both Modi and Abbott. Here are some of those.
Suggestions for Modi
- India needs to initiate a simplified tax system in India that is similar to Australian standards.
- India needs to improve its transport networks. The inadequacy of transport facilities makes it difficult for manufacturing companies.
- India should enforce a compulsory student-exchange programme on the international level.
- Indian must increase the maximum available student loan that is around AUD 40,000 only at the moment.
Suggestions for Abbott
- Australia should look beyond China for international business collaborations.
- Australia should provide assistance in eradicating poverty in India.
- Around 580 million people in India can be economically empowered by 2022. An additional 115 million non-farm job is required over the next decade. Australian companies can take advantage of this and make profit.
- Australia could enter a memorandum of understanding with a number of Indian universities. If Indian students are allowed to spend a semester in India, it will open up business opportunities and talent scouting.
Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au