2007 – INDO-AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS REACHES THE TIPPING POINT.

It has been an incredible year for Indo-Australian business. The year saw a massive corporate movement from Australia to India and equally in the reverse direction. The Chamber has been tracking down these movements very closely. It is also the year in which the Australian Consulate General-cum-Trade Commission was formally established in Chennai giving a further fillip to the trade relations. There have also been important visits by Premiers, senior government officials and several leading business men in both the directions. Last but not least, Mr. K.M. Mammen, our President received the prestigious Special Award from Australia India Council during the year.

We have pleasure in highlighting some of the landmark events in the Indo-Australian business relations.

From Australia to India

•  A full-fledged Australian Consulate General-cum-Trade Commission opened in Chennai.

• Mr. K.M. Mammen, President of the Chamber, was honoured with the prestigious Australia-India Special Award.

• Westpac Banking Corporation, one of Australia’s top banks, opened a representative office in Mumbai.

• Delegation led by Hon. Mr. Morris Iemma MP, Premier of New South Wales, Australia, visited New Delhi and Mumbai.

• Hon. Mr. Alan Carpenter, M.L.A., Premier of Western Australia, visited Chennai.

• BIM Design Solutions (India) Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of Australia-based BIM Global Solutions, launched their Chennai operations.

• Australian realtor, L.J. Hooker, launched its operations in Bangalore.

• Australian company Santos secured two offshore deepwater exploration licenses in the Bay of Bengal.

• RMIT University signed a MoU with the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology.

• IPP Consultancy Services, Sydney, started offshore operations in Hyderabad.

• IPP Consultancy Services, Sydney, started offshore operations in Hyderabad.

•  India and Australia signed an agreement to jointly promote biotechnology in both the countries.

• QBE Insurance Group entered into India’s general insurance market by signing a joint venture agreement with Rajan Raheja Group.

• A business development team from the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited Chennai.

• Norfolk Group Ltd expanded into India, with the $1.8 million acquisition of 85 per cent of Trans American Air-conditioning.

• Bowen Energy Ltd signed an agreement with Bhushan Steel and purchased two million Bowen shares at 32 cents a share.

• Major Australian builders, Multiplex and Leighton, entered Indian market.

• Australian telecom firm, Soul Australia, has chosen Bangalore-based Subex Azure as an exclusive OSS partner for a large-scale operations systems transformation project.

• Australian Firm DBL opened its first Corporate Training Centre in India at Pune.

          From India to Australia 

• Satyam Computer Services Ltd launched a new solutions centre in Brisbane.

• Tata Consultancy Services signed a five-year $16 million information technology services contract with AGL Energy Ltd.

• Sundaram Infotech Solutions Ltd opened its Australian office in Melbourne.

• The 8^th Annual Business Mission led by the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce visited Perth, Melbourne and Sydney in November.

• Mrs. Sujatha Singh took over as the new Indian High Commissioner in Australia.

• Coastal Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Griffin Coal Company of Western Australia for sourcing thermal coal to supply to its customers in India.

• Gujarat NRE Coke’s Australian Flagship subsidiary India NRE Minerals Limited listed at ASX.

•  Petronet LNG signed a deal with the Australian firm Gorgan for supply of 2.5 million tones of LNG per annum for 25 years.

• Firepro Systems, a leading Indian fire protection and security systems company, opened office in Melbourne.

• Satyam Computer Services Ltd opened a 150-seat development centre in North Sydney.

• Motherson Sumi Systems Ltd acquired the business and assets of Australian firm, Empire Rubber.

• Gujarat NRE Coke Ltd acquired an Australian coal mine Elouera Colliery from global mining major BHP Billiton.

• Mahindra & Mahindra launched utility vehicle Mahindra Pik-Up in Australia with TMI Pacific.

• Biocon Ltd signed a MoU with Australia’s Deakin University for collaboration in research and education.

•  ITC acquired the entire share capital of Technico Pty Ltd of Australia.

• Tata Consultancy Services has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NSW TAFE to run some of the technical colleges’ courses in India.

• Abhijeet Group signed an agreement with Australian firm, Thiess Leighton India Pvt. Ltd, for execution of a Rs. 4500 crore coal mining contract.

• Suzlon Energy Ltd signed two major new orders in Australia, totaling over 200 MW of capacity.

•  Morgan Stanley bought Investa Property Group of Australia for A$ 4.7 billion.

• Sify partnered Australia based O4 Corporation, a provider of mobile field sales, marketing and merchandising solutions.

• Auto component maker, Ashok Minda Group, acquired 51% stake in Australian company NTS Global for an amount of Rs. 70 crores.

• Satyam Computer Services signed a major deal with one of the largest transport providers in Australia.

• Battery maker Exide Industries Ltd bought 26 per cent in Ceil Motive Power Pty Ltd to export traction batteries that would be marketed in Australia.

• K.K. Birla Group company, Texmaco, signed an agreement for a 50:50 joint venture with the rail division of United Group of Australia.

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