On Tuesday, the premier also launched an update to the state’s India Strategy, identifying areas where Victoria wants to strengthen, grow and explore its connections to the world’s most populous nation.
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It outlines that almost 40 per cent of Australia’s Indian diaspora lives in Victoria, with communities growing not only in Melbourne’s west and south-east, but in Bendigo and Geelong too.
Since the strategy was last updated in 2018, Victorian merchandise exports to India have grown by 51 per cent and the number of direct flights from India to Australia has quadrupled to 13 per week, including a 20 per cent increase in business arrivals.
“The data tells us … around 60 Indians will move to Victoria today. Perhaps that number will be 61 tomorrow, and so on into the future,” Allan said.
“In Victoria, we’re building for that future. There’s a big three that we are focused on: transport, homes and renewable energy.”
Allan said India shared these same interests and challenges.
Other areas for growth identified in the strategy include environmental sustainability, the beauty industry, and building stronger ties between Victoria’s film industry with India’s world-famous Bollywood.
“India is emerging as one of the largest markets in the world for beauty, wellness and personal care products, driven by increasing urbanisation, growing disposable incomes, participation of women in the workforce, and growth in e-commerce and social media marketing,” the strategy says.
Allan’s delegation on Tuesday toured Laxminarayan Temple, also known as Birla Mandir, a Hindu temple inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition there would be no discrimination in who was allowed to use it.
Premier Jacinta Allan with Balaji Kumar, Chief Human Resource Officer at Sonata Software.Credit: Kieran Rooney
Before making the Kabaddi announcement, she toured the site HCL Tech, a multinational company assisting Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning with automating how concessions are automatically included in public transport fares.
She also toured the University of Melbourne’s new global outpost in Connaught Place – one of Delhi’s biggest financial centres and a symbol of the massive economic growth that has defined modern India – where it will demonstrate the university’s courses and hold special events.
The India strategy will also seek to strengthen Victoria’s existing connections with India’s education, food, tourism and technology industries.
Global tech company Sonata Software on Tuesday announced it would set up a Centre of Excellence in Melbourne with support from the government, creating 100 jobs and providing training to young talent.
The company specialises in helping businesses modernise to use more digital technology. It will focus on retail and manufacturing in Australia, as more local companies look for ways to use artificial intelligence and data.
Allan spoke on Monday with Delhi local Sunny Sharma, who wanted to improve his English.Credit: Kieran Rooney
Sonata’s chief human resource officer, Balaji Kumar, said the company had made its decision because of the training students were receiving in Victoria.
“The quality of talent that we have encountered in Victoria and in Melbourne [have] made a huge difference to us as a company,” he said.
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