The year has started with several changes to diplomatic posts in India and Australia.
Gopal Baglay is India’s new High Commissioner to Australia. A seasoned diplomat, he was earlier India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. Dr S Janakiraman is India’s new Consul General for Sydney and South Australia and was until recently India’s Ambassador to Cuba.
Both Mr Baglay and Dr Janakiraman are in Australia at a time when the bilateral relationship is at its finest hour. For AIBC, it was an honour to host welcome receptions this month in Sydney for both Mr Baglay and Dr Janakiraman; and for the High Commissioner in Canberra and Perth. The presence of NSW Premier, Chris Minns and the ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr underscores the strategic significance of India to both states.
New consular appointments have also been announced by Australia. Paul Murphy takes charge in Mumbai, Silai Zaki is in Chennai and Hugh Boylan has joined in Kolkata.
In January, I was in India for the Vibrant Gujarat 2024 in Gandhinagar. The ‘Australia Pavilion’ was abuzz with energy and activity. Ditto at the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Summit. Deakin University, an AIBC member, made Australia proud with the inauguration of their GIFT City campus in Gujarat, making it the first foreign university to offer a higher learning campus in India.
In 2023, AIBC curated over 50 events, and we are off to a good start with events across states in January and February. You can read about these activities below.
As always, I would be keen to know your thoughts and to hear from you, our members, on how we can continue to serve you.
Best wishes,
Jodi McKay