Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday welcomed announcement by AustralianSuper, Australia’s largest retirement fund, to invest A$500 million in India’s infrastructure sector, describing it as a strong endorsement of the country’s growth trajectory and reform agenda.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “India welcomes the AU$500 million investment from AustralianSuper, announced by their Chief Executive, Mr. Paul Schroder, this morning in Melbourne. This is yet another glimpse of the global confidence in India’s growth and reform trajectory. It also reflects the immense opportunities that our dynamic economy offers global investors.”
The announcement came during the India-Australia CEO Forum and Economic Roadmap Business Reception, where PM Modi and his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, jointly addressed leading business executives from both countries.
Pitching India as a secure and dependable long-term investment destination, PM Modi spotlighted the expanding economic synergy between the two democracies and welcomed pension giants to participate in India’s long-term growth trajectory by scaling up their footprints.
“Australian pension funds currently manage assets exceeding four trillion dollars. In India, pension savings are regarded as a sacred trust… India offers your funds opportunities for safe, stable, and sustainable growth. Our endeavour will be to ensure that both your trust and your capital grow. There is a natural synergy between the two nations in the realms of education and skills… Our shared goal should be to transform student mobility into talent partnerships,” PM Modi said at the forum.
The investment, announced by AustralianSuper Chief Executive Paul Schroder during the Australia-India CEO Forum in Melbourne, marks a significant boost to economic and investment ties between the two countries.
Highlighting India’s strong economic growth, reform-driven business environment and expanding innovation ecosystem, PM Modi invited Australian businesses to partner in India’s growth story across sectors including manufacturing, clean energy, critical minerals, infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI), fintech and the digital economy.
He said India’s scale, combined with Australia’s expertise, offers a “win-win partnership” and urged businesses from both countries to deepen collaboration and explore long-term investment opportunities.
Addressing the Economic Roadmap Business event, attended by more than 200 CEOs and business leaders, PM Modi stressed the natural synergies between India and Australia and called for the early conclusion of the proposed Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to further strengthen bilateral economic ties.
He encouraged greater cooperation in strategic sectors such as critical minerals, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and defence, while also advocating stronger economic partnerships between Indian states and Australian provinces.
According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the discussions at both business events underscored the shared commitment of India and Australia to expanding trade, investment and innovation-led cooperation.
(With ANI inputs)
