New trade and cultural links forged with India

11/12/2016
 
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• Western Australia and Andhra Pradesh commit to working together in mining, agriculture, energy and education in new Sister State relationship 

The Liberal National Government today announced new measures to further diversify the State's economy by building important trade, business, education and cultural links with the Indian State of Andhra Pradesh.

Premier Colin Barnett said Western Australia had formalised the relationship with the signing of a Sister State agreement with Andhra Pradesh, an emerging mining, technology and agricultural hub which has a population of 49.5 million people.

"Under this historic agreement, WA and Andhra Pradesh have committed to working together across four key economic areas - including mining and mining services, agriculture and fisheries, energy production and distribution, and higher and vocational education and training, in a bid to further diversify the economies of both States," the Premier said.

Treasurer and Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Mike Nahan witnessed Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu signing the agreement in New Dehli on Friday.

State Development Minister Bill Marmion said both States shared a wealth of mineral resources and agricultural land, which would be further developed through the agreement.

"While this Sister State Agreement has an initial term of five years, we expect the relationship between WA and Andhra Pradesh to flourish for decades to come," Mr Marmion said.

Dr Nahan said there was scope to expand the co-operation between both States to include science and technology, infrastructure, water management, manufacturing, sport and culture.

"WA has a thriving Indian community with more than 40,000 people indicating they have Indian heritage, so I am excited by the many economic and cultural benefits this presents," he said.

Fact File

• Andhra Pradesh's gross domestic product was more than US$85 billion in 2014-15, and has grown at an average of 11 per cent in the 10 years to 2014-15
• Projects will be funded from the existing budgets of the Department of State Development and the WA International Trade and Investment Office in Mumbai, India
• WA has existing Sister State relationships with East Java in Indonesia, the Hyogo Prefecture in Japan, the Zhejiang Province in China, and the Tuscany region in Italy