The Australia India Business Council (AIBC) has congratulated Swati Dave on her appointment as the first Chair for the Centre of Australia-India Relations. Swati is a highly respected and an experienced business leader with a track record of successfully transforming large businesses, driving cultural change and managing complex stakeholder engagements across the public and private sectors.
The newly established CAIR is a new $24.1 million national platform to foster ties and support Australia’s expanding exchange and cooperation with India.
The Centre will focus on four key areas of work:
- promoting policy dialogue
- building Australian business literacy and links;
- engaging Australia’s Indian diaspora communities to support the Australia-India bilateral relationship, and
- deepening cultural connections and understanding.
It will also administer over $20 million in new funding for the Maitri (friendship) scholars, grants and fellowships programs and cultural partnership.
The Government will formally establish the Centre this year. It will report to a representative Board, under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).