Marise Payne, Australian Foreign Minister, on Saturday announced the ‘Maitri scholars program’ under which the Australian government will offer USD 11 million to Indian students for their education in the leading universities of Australia. During the press meet, the Australian foreign minister declared that newer initiatives were being taken to facilitate good educational and cultural ties between India and Australia. “I’m also proud with a number of my Australian ministerial colleagues to announce today a series of new initiatives to boost the education and cultural ties between Australia and India”. “The initiatives are appropriately called the ‘Maitri’, meaning friendship initiatives,” the minister stated.
“The Maitri Fellowships Program will provide USD 3.5 million over four years to build links between future leaders,
will support mid-career Australian and Indian professionals to collaborate on strategic research initiatives,” Payne stated. She also stated that Australia would also make an investment of 6 million dollars for ‘Maitri’ cultural partnerships, to support cultural industries bloom in both the nations.
Payne along with Indian external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, said that India and Australia have deep roots in trade and investments as well.
“And as we stand here in Melbourne, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan is returning from India after a round of negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).”
Payne further mentioned that the agreement will help foster amiable relations and help the nations recover post the pandemic period. She also highlighted the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the nations, on Friday.
“Australian Commerce Minister Dan Tehan was able to sign a memorandum of understanding on tourism, with his ministerial counterpart yesterday in New Delhi. Under the MoU Australia and India will work together to promote travel between the two markets, and advance cooperation on tourism policy data sharing training and industry engagement,” she stated.
She also announced the establishment of India- Australia infrastructure forum which will channel Australia’s enormous finances with India’s enormous infrastructure opportunities. This mission will facilitate workshops and generate business.
