NSW Premier Chris Minns will travel to India next week with Treasurer Daniel Mookhey for a four-day official mission aimed at expanding trade, investment, education and cultural ties between New South Wales and India.
The delegation will visit New Delhi and Mumbai from 31 August to 3 September, with the Premier announcing the trip at an Indian Independence Day event at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour.
It will be Minns’ first overseas visit since becoming Premier of NSW, reflecting the state government’s focus on India as a key market for trade, investment, tourism and education.
NSW and India traded $6.87 billion worth of goods in 2024-25, placing India among the state’s major trading partners. The government says the mission will seek to build on that relationship by creating opportunities for NSW businesses and attracting further investment from India.
The delegation will focus on sectors including education, research and innovation, agrifood, clean energy, critical minerals, technology, tourism and advanced industries.
The relationship extends beyond commercial activity. About 174,000 Indian visitors travelled to NSW in the year to March 2026, spending around $600 million and recording 8.5 million nights in the state.
India is also a major source of international students for NSW, with more than 28,000 Indian students studying at institutions across the state.
Minns said the contribution of the Indian community to NSW was an important part of the relationship between the state and India.
“People have come to NSW from India, worked hard, built businesses, raised families and contributed to communities right across our state,” he said.
He said the government wanted to increase trade and investment while attracting more visitors and creating opportunities for NSW businesses.
“India is one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and an increasingly important partner for NSW,” Minns said.
“I’m proud that my first overseas visit as Premier will be to India. It reflects the importance of the relationship and the enormous contribution the Indian community makes to NSW.”
The mission will also draw on the existing sister-state relationship between NSW and Maharashtra, which is home to Mumbai and is one of India’s major economic centres.
Maharashtra and NSW have maintained formal links since 2012, with cooperation spanning areas including education, business, culture and government.
Mookhey will participate in the India program before undertaking further engagements in Bengaluru while Minns travels to Nepal. His schedule will focus on trade, investment and technology opportunities.
The Treasurer said education was an important part of the relationship, alongside the existing trade links between NSW and India.
“Beyond a trade relationship valued in the billions of dollars, education provides a lasting and rewarding bond,” Mookhey said.
“By building our economic, education and innovation ties, we can support more NSW exporters, attract investment and create long-term opportunities for Australian businesses and families.”
The government expects the delegation to provide NSW exporters with opportunities to meet Indian businesses and investors while promoting the state as a destination for investment and international education.
The focus on clean energy and critical minerals comes as both Australia and India look to develop supply chains for resources and technologies needed for the energy transition. Technology, research and advanced industries will also feature as areas where the government sees potential for collaboration.
Tourism will be another focus, with the strong flow of Indian visitors providing a base for further growth.
Following the India visit, Minns will travel to Kathmandu from 4 to 5 September to strengthen government and community links with Nepal. The visit will extend the Premier’s engagement across South Asia while maintaining a focus on economic and community connections.
Deputy Premier Prue Car will serve as Acting Premier while Minns is overseas.
The India delegation comes at a time when NSW is seeking to broaden international markets for local businesses while attracting overseas capital and talent. For the state government, India offers a large and growing market with established links to NSW through trade, education, tourism and its Indian-Australian community.
The four-day program is expected to combine government meetings, business engagements and community and cultural events, with the government positioning the visit as an opportunity to strengthen relationships that extend across economic, educational and social ties.
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