The New South Wales Government has concluded its first trade mission to India, opening new opportunities for NSW businesses, investment and jobs across a range of sectors in one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies.
NSW Premier Chris Minns and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey spent four days in New Delhi and Mumbai engaging with senior government and business leaders across critical minerals, technology, tourism, education, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and creative industries.
India was selected for the Premier’s first overseas visit, highlighting the importance of the relationship between NSW and India. Two-way merchandise trade between NSW and India is already worth almost $7 billion annually, with the mission underscoring the potential for the relationship to expand further.
A key outcome was the renewal of the NSW-Maharashtra sister-state agreement, with both governments committing to develop a joint action plan within 90 days aimed at strengthening trade and investment.
The mission also advanced several business and investment opportunities. NSW-owned traffic technology SCATS entered into a new partnership with HCL Tech to explore the use of artificial intelligence to expand the application of NSW traffic technology in India. NSW Mid North Coast boat builder Steber International also partnered with Mumbai-based West Coast Marine to bring electric boat technology to India.
The NSW delegation held discussions with major Indian companies, including Tata, Mahindra and JSW, on opportunities to invest and expand in NSW. The mission also highlighted NSW’s critical minerals sector to Indian government and industry representatives as India looks to secure the minerals required to support its manufacturing growth.
Tourism and connectivity were another focus, with discussions with Air India around increasing direct flights between India and Sydney. The delegation also engaged with tourism operators on opportunities to make travel to Australia more accessible.
Education and research links were also strengthened, including through Western Sydney University’s new Greater Noida campus and growing collaboration between NSW universities and Indian institutions.
The mission further opened opportunities for Indian film production in NSW, including the announcement that Heyy Babyy 2 will be filmed in the state.
During the visit, Premier Minns and Treasurer Mookhey met senior Indian government leaders, including Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with senior business leaders in Delhi and Mumbai.
The mission also included community and cultural engagements. The Premier and Treasurer visited religious and community institutions, met Mumbai’s renowned dabbawalas and engaged with people from India’s food, film and cultural industries.
These visits provided an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of India and its people while recognising the role of NSW’s Indian community as an important bridge between the two countries.
The mission concluded with a NSW-India investment forum in Mumbai, bringing together major Indian and Australian businesses to explore opportunities for greater collaboration.
Premier Chris Minns said the visit had demonstrated that the relationship between NSW and India was at the beginning of what it could become.
“We already do almost $7 billion in two-way trade, but there’s much more we can do in critical minerals, technology, education and tourism,” Premier Minns said.
He said NSW’s more than 200,000 Indian-born residents provided the state with an important advantage through their understanding of both countries.
“Our job now is to turn the conversations we’ve had this week into more investment, jobs and opportunities back home,” he said.
Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the mission demonstrated a strong appetite on both sides to deepen economic ties.
“We’ve met businesses with the scale, technology and capital to invest in NSW, and we’ve seen first-hand the opportunities for NSW businesses in India,” Daniel Mookhey said.
He also highlighted the broader connections between the two countries through people, universities and communities.
“For a state of eight and a half million people, the opportunity to sell our goods, services and expertise into a market of 1.4 billion people is enormous,” he said.
Daniel Mookhey said the mission had opened new doors and that the focus would now be on converting the interest and relationships developed during the visit into tangible economic opportunities for NSW.