Geelong will focus on four priority sectors to strengthen its partnership with India following a three-day forum that brought together government, business and community leaders.
The City of Greater Geelong said the approach emerged from a roundtable at the end of the Geelong-India Collaborative Futures Forum, where participants agreed the next phase should centre on delivery and measurable outcomes.
More than 100 guests attended the forum from 16 to 18 March, with 40 speakers taking part, including India’s Consul General in Melbourne, Shri Anish Rajan. Representatives joined from across Australia and from India.
The city has identified advanced manufacturing and innovation, film and creativity, tourism and sport, and food and agribusiness as the key areas for collaboration. Officials said these sectors would be supported by education and skills development, with dedicated networks and monthly sessions planned to maintain momentum.
The agenda will include examining visa pathways, analysing trade trends and initiating pilot programs to strengthen links between Geelong and Indian partners.
Mayor Stretch Kontelj said the city was well placed to pursue targeted growth. “We can be masters of our own destiny, particularly as a rapidly growing city with strong projected population growth. We are well positioned as a self-sustaining economic centre, with land available for considered residential and industrial development, and we are incredibly fortunate in that regard.”
He said the partnership required focus. “A collaboration with India will bring opportunities we are only just beginning to understand, but we must be focused – we can’t do everything, so we need to be strategic about where we invest our energy.”
Shri Anish Rajan said the discussions had set a direction for practical cooperation. “What flows from these discussions is extremely important, as we look at practical pathways to drive growth, economic opportunity and shared prosperity for both our communities.”
He said Geelong’s business environment showed promise. “There is already a strong and growing pipeline of entrepreneurs emerging from Geelong, which is an encouraging sign for future engagement. This entrepreneurial spirit will play a key role in strengthening business links between India and Geelong in the years ahead.”
Australian Consul-General in Chennai Silai Zaki encouraged a broader geographic focus within India. “Geelong should position itself as a capability partner – showcasing its strengths in advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, skills and lifestyle – while building the long-term relationships that underpin success in India.”
She said there remained scope to expand engagement. “India’s trade with the world has grown significantly, and its engagement with Australia has accelerated even faster. While some cities are reaching saturation point, there is still significant scope to engage with emerging regions and establish partnerships at an early stage.”
Australia India Business Council chair Deepak-Raj Gupta said the partnership had clear commercial potential. “The synergies between Geelong and India present a clear pathway to accelerate commercial growth. The forum clearly demonstrated the need for a strong partnership to prioritize this potential. We are focused on strengthening port-to-port connectivity, particularly with Chennai, to streamline supply chains and enhance trade throughput.”
He said improved logistics would support investment flows. “This logistical foundation will support a dual investment strategy: directing capital into Geelong’s advanced manufacturing and services sectors, while fostering Indian industry growth through cross-border capability development. This is a mutual value proposition designed to build enduring capacity at both ends of the partnership.”
The forum builds on earlier engagement, including a business roundtable held in June and a memorandum of understanding signed in August between the City of Greater Geelong and the Australia India Business Council.
Organisers said the focus would now turn to sustaining engagement through ongoing industry collaboration and structured partnerships.
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#Geelong identifies 4 priority sectors to deepen India ties following a 3-day forum. Focus on advanced manufacturing, film, tourism & agribusiness, spprtd by education, wt monthly networks to drive outcomes. #TheIndianSun @cgimelbourne @StretchKontelj
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