“The total trade between India and Australia in 2013-14 was to the tune of 15 billion Australian dollars. We are hopeful that by forging mutually beneficial alliances, India will go on to feature in the top ten trade partners of Australia,” said Minister of Steel & Mines Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in his inaugural address to an international audience assembled at the Asia Pacific International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX) 2015 here today. Shri Tomar is heading a delegation, comprising heads of mining organisations and ministry officials to AIMEX 2015. The Minister shared the dais with Indian High Commissioner in Australia Shri Navdeep Suri at the India Day event, held with the objective of inviting proactive partnership of miners and explorers from across the world in the Indian mining industry.
The event witnessed the commencement of a major collaboration between Geo Science Australia (GSA) and its Indian counterpart, Geological Survey of India (GSI), as the two expert organisations signed a MoU for ‘Cooperation to develop short term and medium term roadmap for GSI in technology infusion, capacity building and efficiency improvement’. Under the signed collaboration, GSA will work closely with GSI to help it attain global benchmarks in exploration work. Acting CEO of GSA Dr James Johnson and Director-General of GSI Mr Harbans Singh exchanged the MoU document in the presence of Shri Tomar and Shri Suri.
High Commissioner Shri Navdeep Suri spoke about the extensive Indo-Australian relationship, and expatiated on the multi-faceted nature of their collaboration and friendship. A detailed presentation was made by senior officers of the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, outlining the salient features of recent amendments in the legislative mining framework. Minister Shri Tomar also launched an e-book on exploration, which would serve as a detailed guidebook for investors looking at India. Presentations were also made by chiefs and senior representatives of NMDC, Coal India, MECL, NALCO, MOIL, HCL and Rio Tinto. Together, Team India presented the prospects of investment and partnership in ‘Destination India’ to a galaxy of participants attending AIMEX 2015. The four-day exhibition, which started today, is the world’s largest mining exhibition, bringing together buyers and suppliers from all corners of the world. The Indian pavilion, which showcases the ‘Make in India’ campaign of the present government, was also inaugurated by Shri Tomar today.