Australian PM Albanese Will Visit India In March, Talk On Trade Agreement Expected

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit India next year in March to finalise the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), according to a statement released by the office of Australian Prime Minister

“I also met with the Prime Minister of India, where we discussed the finalisation of the closer economic cooperation agreement between Australia and India, which we believe is critical for expanding Australia-India economic relations. In March, I will be in India. We intend to send a business delegation to India, that will be an important visit and an improve our bilateral relationship,” PM Albanese said during a press conference on Wednesday.

This announcement was made on the sidelines of the 17th G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. Australian PM Albanese is also expected to attend G20 Summit held in India in 2023.  

He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Australia next year for the Quad Leaders’ meeting. “We also discussed the details of the Quad Leaders' meeting, which will take place next year,” the Australian Prime Minister added.

On 1 November, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met virtually with Australia's Trade and Tourism Minister, Don Farrell. According to the media report, Goyal said during the meeting that the early implementation of the India-Australia ECTA was in both countries best interests.

Both delegations reviewed and appreciated the progress made in ratifying the Ind-Aus ECTA, which was signed on 22 April 2022.

PM Modi recently met with the Australian Prime Minister on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Bali, where they reaffirmed their commitment to a shared and peaceful Indo-Pacific region in the face of Chinese assertiveness.