Sydney, October 10, 2025, 11:45 AM IST – Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the first-ever India-Australia Defence Industry Business Round Table in Sydney today, spotlighting the growing alliance between the two nations under their 2020 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Addressing a diverse gathering, Singh declared, “We are at a critical turning point to redefine our defence ties, evolving from partners to co-creators of a secure and thriving Indo-Pacific region.” He framed the event as a bold commitment to forge India and Australia as natural allies in business, industry, and technological innovation.
Singh reflected on the robust foundation of bilateral relations, strengthened by recent high-level interactions, including the India-Australia Summit in November 2024, the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in October 2024, the Australian Deputy PM and Defence Minister’s visit to India in June 2025, and his current tour. He attributed this progress to shared democratic values and governance frameworks, noting both nations’ membership in the Commonwealth of Nations as a unifying factor rooted in diversity, liberty, and similar institutional structures.
The Defence Minister outlined three pillars driving this partnership: robust government-to-government ties, a vibrant people-to-people connection bolstered by a significant Indian diaspora in Australia and growing Australian presence in India, and untapped potential in defence industrial collaboration through joint research, innovation, and co-production. He highlighted India’s economic surge, now the world’s fourth-largest and fastest-growing major economy, with defence production reaching ₹1.51 lakh crore (around USD 18 billion) and exports hitting ₹23,622 crore (USD 2.76 billion) last year—a remarkable 18% growth.
Singh invited Australian firms to leverage India’s transformative manufacturing reforms, supported by initiatives like Make in India, Production Linked Incentive schemes, and digital advancements. He noted the liberalization of FDI up to 74% under the automatic route, with higher limits approved for cutting-edge technology transfers. To boost private-sector defence R&D, Singh pointed to free technology transfers via DRDO and successful schemes yielding advanced innovations, with ongoing collaborations with Australia’s Defence Science & Technology Group on towed array sensors and emerging talks in quantum tech, AI, cybersecurity, and advanced science.
He encouraged co-development and co-production of sophisticated systems, including propulsion technologies, autonomous underwater vehicles, flight simulators, and advanced materials, leveraging India’s shipbuilding expertise and Australia’s niche strengths in quantum and maritime surveillance. Singh highlighted India’s readiness to offer refit, upgrade, and maintenance services to the Royal Australian Navy and vessels under Australia’s Pacific Maritime Security Program, citing active partnerships like Indo-MIM with Thales Australia and Tata Advanced Systems with W&E Platt Pty Ltd.
Welcoming Australia’s proposal for a reciprocal defence articles and services MoU, Singh lauded its designation of India as a Top Tier Partner, easing technology-sharing barriers. He envisioned vast opportunities in naval vessel co-production, ship repairs, MRO support, and green shipbuilding, urging Australian businesses to invest and innovate with India. “Together, we can develop next-generation technologies and platforms, positioning our industries as strategic pillars of regional peace and security,” he asserted, calling for diversified supply chains and joint capacities to ensure a resilient Indo-Pacific.
The event, co-hosted by India’s Ministry of Defence, Australia’s Department of Defence, Newland Global Group, and the Australia-India Business Council, saw participation from Assistant Minister for Defence Mr. Peter Khalil, alongside senior officials, diplomats, industry leaders, and innovators from both nations, marking a defining moment in their defence partnership.
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