Bengaluru: Australia’s largest diplomatic presence anywhere in the world is now in Bengaluru, with the country Friday inaugurating the new premises of its Consulate-General and signalling a long-term commitment to expanding cooperation with India in technology, education and innovation.Speaking at the inauguration, Australian assistant minister for citizenship, customs and multicultural affairs and assistant minister for international education, Julian Hill MP said the Bengaluru mission housed more Australian diplomats and representatives than any other Australian mission globally. “It reflects the importance Australia is placing on our deepening relationship and strategic partnership with India,” Hill said.This is Australia’s fifth diplomatic mission in India after New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata. The inauguration comes weeks after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Australia-India partnership on cyber, critical technologies and supply chains (PACTS), aimed at boosting cooperation in emerging technologies, secure supply chains and digital innovation.Describing Bengaluru as a global centre for entrepreneurship and technology, Hill said the city would play a pivotal role in implementing the recently announced PACTS, with collaboration expected to deepen in cybersecurity, digital resilience and emerging technologies. He also noted around 40 Australian companies have a significant presence in Bengaluru and said the city’s thriving innovation ecosystem made it a natural destination for greater industry and research collaboration.Besides Karnataka, Bengaluru Consulate-General will oversee Australia’s engagement with Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.The inauguration coincided with the opening of University of New South Wales’ Bengaluru campus at Manyata Tech Park, making it the highest-ranked foreign university to establish a campus in India.
