About us
The Australia-India Council (AIC) was established on 21 May 1992 in response to a recommendation by the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, following an inquiry into Australia's relations with India.
Mission statement
The AIC's mission is to advance Australia's foreign and trade policy interests by building awareness and understanding between the people and institutions of Australia and India.
Key activities
AIC objectives are to:
- raise awareness of Australia in India, and of India in Australia in a way that encourages further growth in relations between the two countries, including in the trade and investment relationship
- promote exchange and collaboration between Australian and Indian organisations in fields of relevance to the bilateral strategic partnership
- deliver high quality programs that demonstrate Australia’s economic credentials and technical excellence to influential audiences in India
- seek community involvement in, and private sector support for meeting the AIC’s objectives including by encouraging corporate investment in collaborations that advance Australia-India relations
- publicise the AIC’s activities as a means of encouraging broad support for the AIC's role and the bilateral relationship.
Priority considerations
The AIC funds new innovative projects that build sustainable collaborations and improve perceptions of Australia in India and/or of India in Australia.
From 2017 to 2020, priority areas include:
- Developing new innovative mechanisms for lifting education outcomes between Australia and India, such as through the New Colombo Plan or mobile platforms for the delivery of training and skill programs
- Developing new innovative social entrepreneur schemes that build on either India's unique identifier or outcomes from successful projects, such as Australia-India Strategic Research Fund projects on bio, agriculture, water technology and urban infrastructure
- Recognising and capitalising on Australian and Indian shared cultural identity, for example, through common parliamentary and legal systems; social entrepreneurial platforms that support women in leadership, children or tech-savvy youth; or Indigenous culture
- Building connections between Australia and India by drawing on major events as inspiration for collaborations and joint projects that establish linkages between India and Australia in a school, business or community setting.
Useful links
Information, resources and training opportunities for Australian organisations: Doing business in India - Asialink Business