Bengaluru, Jan 29: Australia is set to significantly deepen its engagement with Karnataka, positioning the state as a strategic hub for bilateral collaboration across education, technology and business.
Addressing delegates at an interactive session on Tariff-Free Access for Indian Exporters under the India–Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), Mr. Vik Singh, Consul (Commercial) and Trade & Investment Commissioner, South Asia, Australian Trade and Investment Commission, highlighted the growing momentum in Australia–India relations, with Karnataka emerging as a central pillar of this expanding partnership. The session was organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry & Commerce (BCIC) under the aegis of its International Business Expert Committee, in association with World Trade Center Bengaluru.
Education and technology remain priority sectors in the bilateral relationship. In a major development, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has announced plans to establish a branch campus in Bengaluru, with discussions already underway with the Government of Karnataka. The campus is expected to become operational next year.
“As one of the world’s leading universities, UNSW’s decision to establish a presence in Bengaluru reflects the confidence Australian institutions have in Karnataka’s talent ecosystem and innovation potential,” said Mr. Singh. “The campus will play a key role in strengthening academic collaboration, research partnerships and technology exchange between Australia and India.”
Ranked among the world’s top universities, UNSW’s proposed Bengaluru campus is expected to contribute significantly to advanced education, joint research initiatives and industry-linked innovation, further reinforcing Karnataka’s position as a global education and knowledge hub. The initiative marks an important milestone in Australia’s long-term engagement with India and underscores Karnataka’s growing stature as a preferred destination for international universities and global investors.
“Karnataka has emerged as one of Australia’s most important partners in India, driven by strong synergies in education, innovation and enterprise,” Mr. Singh added. “This is reflected not only in growing trade and investment flows, but also in Australia’s decision to establish one of its largest consular presences in India here, second only to the High Commission in New Delhi.”
India–Australia ECTA: A Landmark Development
Highlighting the trade dimension, Mr. K Ravi, Senior Vice President, BCIC, said, “The implementation of tariff-free access for Indian exporters under the India–Australia ECTA is a landmark development that will significantly enhance India’s export competitiveness. With 100 percent of Australian tariff lines moving to zero duty from January 1, 2026, this historic step unlocks new opportunities across key sectors such as textiles, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, and agriculture—accelerating MSME-led growth, boosting employment and expanding India’s export footprint.”
He added that BCIC will play a key role in supporting exporters by driving industry preparedness, facilitating buyer–seller engagements and ensuring that MSMEs are well-equipped to leverage the agreement, further strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
The deepening relationship is further underscored by the launch of a direct Sydney–Bengaluru flight by Qantas, significantly improving connectivity and accelerating business, academic and people-to-people exchanges between the two regions.
Mr. Singh also outlined the major sectors poised to benefit from deeper Australia–India engagement. Clean energy stands out, supported by Australia’s net-zero targets and rising renewable investments. Education and skills development continue to enable greater student mobility, academic collaboration and joint research. Agribusiness is gaining momentum through improved market access, food processing opportunities and agri-technology cooperation, while tourism is emerging as a high-growth sector driven by rising outbound travel from India. Overall, the services sector—particularly IT, professional services and education—is expected to be the most significant long-term beneficiary of the partnership.