Australian High Commission
India
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ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE FROM AUSTRALIA'S MINISTER FOR TRADE, THE HON WARREN TRUSS MP

PA/15/07                                                                                       22 August 2007

EXCLUSIVE AUSTRALIA-INDIA WEB PORTAL TO BOOST BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

A new business portal showcasing Australian industry expertise and service skills to the Indian business community will break new ground in boosting bilateral trade and investment, the Australian Government Minister for Trade, Warren Truss announced today.

Announcing the portal at the Australia India Business Council luncheon in Adelaide today, Mr Truss said Australia was well-positioned to complement India’s dynamic economic growth.

“The Utsav Australia (Celebrate Australia) site is an important tool in further deepening Australia’s commercial engagement with India,” Mr Truss said.

The utsavaustralia.in business portal is part of the Australian Government’s Utsav Australia (Celebrate Australia) campaign - an in-market promotions program to develop business opportunities for Australian business and industry among the Indian business community.

Mr Truss launched the three-year campaign in New Delhi earlier this year.

“India is our fourth-largest and fastest-growing merchandise export market. Australian merchandise exports to India rose to $11 billion in 2006-07, increasing by an unprecedented 37 per cent from the previous year.

“With business links between Australia and India rapidly gaining momentum, the utsavaustralia.in portal will capture and help leverage the growing commercial opportunities.

“The utsavaustralia.in site is a practical resource for Indian businesses wanting to do business with Australia.

“This portal will highlight Australia’s industry capability, identify live business opportunities, increase efficiency in identifying Australian suppliers and initiate long-term commercial outcomes.

“For Australian businesses, the utsavaustralia.in site will play an important role in generating business and partnership leads from India,” Mr Truss said.

The utsavaustralia.in site is a gateway to commercial opportunities, where Indian businesses can access information about doing business with Australia.

utsavaustralia.in will put Indian and Australian businesses in a unique position to capitalise on the growing commercial opportunities and translate them into winning business propositions,” Mr Truss said.

The utsavaustralia.in site will include information for Indian businesses on:

• Australian industry capability and expertise;
• innovative Australian products and services;
• offers from Australian businesses seeking partners and/or customers;
• industry events, trade shows and buyer delegations to Australia; and
• Australian business delegations visiting India;

Indian businesses will be able to register online to participate in Australian Trade Commission events and organise meetings with visiting Australian businesses. Indian businesses will also be able to post their business enquiries online to source products or services from Australia.

Web site registration is free for Indian businesses. Visit www.utsavaustralia.in or email utsavaustralia@austrade.gov.au for more information, or contact Mr P S Krishnan, Director Strategic Marketing, Australian Trade Commission, on (0) 9840849682.