Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Melbourne, with the two leaders discussing the growing India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and recalling the progress achieved in bilateral relations during Morrison’s tenure.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Always good to catch up with Mr. Scott Morrison, former Prime Minister of Australia. We had a great conversation on the India-Australia friendship.”
According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the two leaders reviewed the significant progress made in the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and fondly recalled the major strides in bilateral relations during Morrison’s tenure that continue to strengthen the bonds between the people of India and Australia.
The meeting came as PM Modi continued a series of high-level engagements in Melbourne aimed at expanding economic, strategic and investment ties between the two countries.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese jointly addressed the Australia-India CEOs Forum and the Economic Roadmap Business event, attended by more than 200 CEOs, business leaders and investors from both countries.
Addressing the Australia-India CEOs Forum, PM Modi highlighted India’s strong economic growth, reform-driven business environment and expanding innovation ecosystem, inviting Australian businesses to become partners in India’s growth story.
He identified manufacturing, clean energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, fintech, infrastructure and the digital economy among the sectors offering significant investment opportunities, noting that India’s scale and Australia’s expertise create a mutually beneficial partnership.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the CEOs Forum had gained remarkable momentum since its relaunch in 2023, reflecting growing confidence in the bilateral economic partnership.
“I thank PM Anthony Albanese for joining the interaction and sharing his vision for taking our economic ties to even greater heights,” Modi said, adding that his discussions covered opportunities in aviation, transport and logistics, financial services, critical minerals, technology, food processing, food security and skilling.
“India offers unmatched opportunities for growth and innovation. I invited businesses to invest and innovate in India,” he added.
The Prime Minister also welcomed AustralianSuper’s announcement of an investment of AU$500 million in India, describing it as another reflection of global confidence in India’s economic reforms and long-term growth trajectory.
Addressing the Economic Roadmap Business event, PM Modi described India and Australia as natural partners and called for the early conclusion of the proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment.
He urged businesses from both countries to collaborate in strategic sectors such as critical minerals, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and defence supply chains, while also encouraging stronger economic partnerships between Indian states and Australian provinces based on their respective strengths.
According to the MEA, the discussions at both business events underscored the shared commitment of India and Australia to expanding economic cooperation and creating new opportunities for trade, investment and innovation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
