Australia signs defence pact with India

South Australian Premier witnesses signing of Defence industries MOU with CII in New Delhi.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann (extreme right) witnesses the signing of the Defence industries MoU with the CII. Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr Peter Varghese is at the left.

In an effort to expand defence ties between Australia and India, the Department of Trade and Economic Development of South Australia has signed a pact with the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi on September 9, 2010 in the presence of Premier of South Australia Mike Rann, who is on his fifth official visit to India.

Welcoming the signing, Premier Rann said, “My state of South Australia is known as the Defence state of Australia, with over 200 defence companies now based in South Australia and a defence project pipeline of over A$40billion.”

“Many of South Australia’s defence companies are eager to work with Indian companies in developing defence products and services for India.  They also recognise the important role that CII plays in liaising with both Government and industry in India,” he added.

Mr Rann, who has led the state’s defence push, is accompanied by representatives of five defence companies on his visit to Delhi.  These include Codan, manufacturers of high frequency radios used in border patrols; Minelab, maker of mine detectors; Lockheed Martin Australia, maker of over-the-horizon radar; Daronmont, specialising in coastal radar systems; and Prism Defence Systems, manufacturers of helicopter guidance systems for ships.

Australian High Commissioner Peter Varghese also welcomed the signing.  “This is another example of the great potential that exists in the defence field between Australia and India.  As the strategic outlooks of our two Indian Ocean nations converge, and as we expand cooperation under the India-Australia Strategic Partnership, we anticipate more such initiatives will emerge in the years ahead,” he said.

During his visit, Premier Rann has played a cricket match against a team led by the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK Stalin.  He has also met with the Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

The Premier will also be visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar on September 11 at the invitation of South Australia’s long-standing Sikh community.