(Photo- Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Anthony Albanese)

New Delhi: The honourable Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Anthony Albanese, visited IIT Delhi on Friday and addressed the students, faculty, and staff members.

On this occasion, the Australian Prime Minister witnessed some state-of-the-art technologies being developed by the IIT Delhi scientists.

Addressing the gathering at IIT Delhi, Mr Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, said:

“It is such an honour to be here at what is not just one of India’s most prestigious centres of higher education … but a place of world renown, and one that is publicly run and funded. I’m very pleased that my arrival has coincided with Holi. In all its colour and joy, this festival has become a beloved fixture on the Australian calendar, but it is so good to see it here at the source. It partly set the scene for this visit- a celebration of the close partnership between our nations. But this visit is also very much about the future. Because of our track record together, it’s a future I feel ambitious about. It’s an ambition backed by a keen awareness that we have so much to do.

I have been accompanied to India by more than 20 Australian business leaders from major companies. Among them are representatives from the transport, resources, finance, university, energy, architecture and design, health, commodities and information technology sectors. They have briefed me on the fruitful discussions they have had this week with Indian counterparts as part of the Australia-India CEO Forum, and the opportunities for deepening cooperation. I’m also pleased to say negotiations are underway for a full Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement - one that will open access even further.

 I’d like to take this opportunity to announce the appointment of Tim Thomas as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Australia-India Relations. The Centre, which will open later this year, will work across government, industry, academia and community to build greater understanding of the Australia-India relationship and support opportunities that arise flowing from our growing connections.

On education, we’re also hoping to break new ground — and I mean that in a very literal sense. I was so pleased to announce that Australia’s Deakin University is on track to be the first foreign university in the world approved to open a physical campus in India, at Gujarat’s GIFT City. And where Indian students aspire to study in Australia, our newest Maitri scholarships will provide that chance as well.

I very much want to see growing numbers of Australian and Indian students to have the experiences of living and studying in our respective countries, and to bring those experiences home. Think of it as human cross-pollination. Through it we draw from each other’s strengths and add to our own – and in the process, each of us becomes something greater. Of course, joining up our best minds is not just desirable. It’s a necessity — especially where the globe’s biggest challenges are concerned.

In the face of a changing climate, both Australia and India have begun to heed such warnings with the seriousness they deserve. Prime Minister Modi’s remarkable goal for India to install 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030 will have a profound impact on the global energy transition. The global move to a clean energy economy is here. And it’s shifting gears – quickly. To get a sense of what is possible, look at what India has already achieved. Between 2018 and 2021, India increased solar generation by 31 terrawatt-hours. That’s enough power for 24.7 million Indians.

Over the next two years, domestic production of solar cells and solar modules in India is expected to more than double. Australia is blessed with abundant resources used in the production of renewable energy. It makes sense for Australia and India work together.

Working together means our goals can be reached sooner. And the benefits of reduced costs and greater access to renewables can be shared — with our trading partners, too. India’s manufacturing scale and huge domestic demand, Australia’s abundance of critical minerals, and our combined research nous, mean there’s plenty of mutual gain. It’s my hope that our deepening cooperation on new and renewable energy can drive new innovation and investment. And I look forward to seeing new clean energy projects, particularly on solar and hydrogen, coming to fruition. Because in them, we see one of the substantial foundations on which we can build a better future. Across all of this work — from the economy to education to clean energy — India and Australia seek to work together.”

The Prime Minister also participated in a fireside chat and answered questions from the IIT Delhi students and faculty. The session was moderated by Mr. Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation (ORF).

The technologies which were showcased during the Australian Prime Minister’s visit include:

• Robotic Exoskeleton Device for Upper Limb Rehabilitation
• Smart Solutions for Building Energy Management
• Lignocellulosic Biomass Valorisation for Sustainable Biorefineries
• Vanadium Redox Flow Battery

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Press Release issued on: 10-03-2023