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Pact with Australia soon for IT cos networking

Our Bureau

CHENNAI, Sept. 6

THE Indian and Australian Governments have concluded negotiations for an agreement, which would ``provide a framework'' that would enable better networking of IT companies in both the countries, the Australian High Commissioner in India, Mr. Rob Laurie, said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the annual general meeting of the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce here, Mr. Laurie said a formal agreement would be signed in October, when the Australian Trade Minister would visit India.

He said the agreement did not envisage any fiscal sops or incentives, but was only meant to act as a catalyst. There would be industry leaders in both countries to help provide insights into doing business. Also, ``there would be contact points establish ed in both the governments, to sort out problems, if any'', he added.

Mr. Laurie lamented at the lack of awareness about Australia in India and vice-versa, and said that Australia was much more than just cricket and agriculture. The manufacturing industry accounted for 12 per cent of Australia's GDP and the services sector accounted for 64 per cent, with the IT segment alone contributing to some seven per cent of the GDP. Further, he said, Australia was a multi-cultural country with as many as 130-140 different ethnicities.

Mr. Laurie said he felt sure the 1,30,000-odd Indians living in Australia would play an influential role in the development of Australia.