Chandigarh: A high-level meeting was held on Wednesday in Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini with a delegation led by Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green. The meeting discussed in detail ways to enhance cooperation between Haryana and Australia in various areas, including education, higher education, skill development, innovation, agriculture, green energy, sports, tourism, investment, and providing global opportunities to the youth.
Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Rajesh Khullar, Deputy Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Ajay Kumar, Advisor to the Chief Minister in the Department of Foreign Cooperation,Pawan Choudhary, Joint Director, Department of Foreign Cooperation, Hina Bindlish, representatives associated with the Australia-India Business Council, and other members of the delegation were present at the meeting.
Special Focus on Cooperation in Universities and Innovation
The meeting placed special emphasis on strengthening collaboration between universities in Haryana and leading Australian universities and research institutions. The Chief Minister said that Haryana is witnessing rapid expansion in the fields of higher education, technical education and research.
Initiative to Connect Haryana’s Youth with Global Skills
The meeting also focused on providing international-level skills to Haryana’s youth and connecting them with global employment opportunities. Possibilities of strengthening collaboration between Australian technical and vocational education institutions and Haryana’s ITIs, polytechnics and skill universities were discussed.
Scope for Technical Cooperation in Agriculture
The meeting also discussed linking the expertise of Haryana and Australia in the agricultural sector. Potential areas of cooperation highlighted included precision agriculture, water-efficient farming, climate-resilient agriculture, soil health, farm mechanisation, dairy technology, food processing, cold chains and agri-innovation.
Discussions on Investment and Advanced Manufacturing
The meeting also explored possibilities for Australian investment in sectors such as automobiles, advanced manufacturing, agri-tech, technology, logistics and Industry 4.0. The Chief Minister said that Haryana’s strong industrial economy, developed infrastructure, skilled human resources and rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem offer significant opportunities for Australian companies and investors.
