*Wide-ranging Scope for Cooperation Between Haryana and Australia in Education, Skills, Innovation and Investment: CM Nayab Singh Saini*

*Australian High Commissioner Philip Green-led delegation meets Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini*

*Focus on partnership with Australia to open new avenues of global skills and employment opportunities for Haryana’s youth*

Chandigarh, September 9:  A high-level meeting was held on Wednesday in Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini with a delegation led by Australian High Commissioner to India Sh. Philip Green. The meeting discussed in detail ways to enhance cooperation between Haryana and Australia in various areas, including education, higher education, skill development, innovation, agriculture, green energy, sports, tourism, investment, and providing global opportunities to the youth.

Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that India and Australia share a strong and comprehensive strategic partnership. Trade, education, technology, innovation, skill development and people-to-people contacts between the two countries are continuously growing. In this context, there is significant scope for further strengthening state-level cooperation between Haryana and Australia. He said that ensuring the benefits of the strengthening India-Australia relationship reach Haryana’s youth, students, farmers, entrepreneurs and industries is a priority of the State Government. Cooperation in education, skills, research, innovation and emerging technologies can give fresh impetus to Haryana’s development.

Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Deputy Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh. Ajay Kumar, Advisor to the Chief Minister in the Department of Foreign Cooperation, Sh. Pawan Choudhary, Joint Director, Department of Foreign Cooperation, Smt. Hina Bindlish, representatives associated with the Australia-India Business Council, and other members of the delegation were present at the meeting. Detailed discussions were also held on promoting trade and investment between Haryana and Australia and further strengthening business-to-business cooperation between the two sides.

*Special Focus on Cooperation in Universities and Innovation*

The meeting placed special emphasis on strengthening collaboration between universities in Haryana and leading Australian universities and research institutions. Possibilities of launching joint research, student and faculty exchange programmes, and joint academic programmes in areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, agriculture, engineering, clean energy and public policy were discussed.

The Chief Minister said that Haryana is witnessing rapid expansion in the fields of higher education, technical education and research. By leveraging the expertise of Australian universities and research institutions, innovation, research and industry-academia partnerships in Haryana can be further strengthened. Discussions were also held on the possibilities of Australian cooperation in developing Centres of Excellence, research and innovation hubs, and training centres focused on emerging technologies in Haryana.

*Initiative to Connect Haryana’s Youth with Global Skills*

The meeting also focused on providing international-level skills to Haryana’s youth and connecting them with global employment opportunities. Possibilities of strengthening collaboration between Australian technical and vocational education institutions and Haryana’s ITIs, polytechnics and skill universities were discussed. Both sides emphasised the need for industry-oriented skill training, modern curricula, English-language training, certification and employment-focused training.

The Australian delegation also discussed possibilities of cooperation in training and skill development for Haryana’s youth aligned with employment opportunities in Australia in sectors such as healthcare, construction, advanced manufacturing, hospitality, logistics and IT.

*Scope for Technical Cooperation in Agriculture*

The meeting also discussed linking the expertise of Haryana and Australia in the agricultural sector. Potential areas of cooperation highlighted included precision agriculture, water-efficient farming, climate-resilient agriculture, soil health, farm mechanisation, dairy technology, food processing, cold chains and agri-innovation.

*Cooperation in Green Hydrogen and Clean Energy*

Discussions were also held on enhancing cooperation in areas such as green hydrogen, solar energy, battery storage, renewable energy, waste-to-energy and the circular economy. Possibilities of developing new projects in clean energy and future energy needs by combining Haryana’s industrial capabilities with Australia’s technological expertise were explored.

*Discussions on Investment and Advanced Manufacturing*

The meeting also explored possibilities for Australian investment in sectors such as automobiles, advanced manufacturing, agri-tech, technology, logistics and Industry 4.0. The Chief Minister said that Haryana’s strong industrial economy, developed infrastructure, skilled human resources and rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem offer significant opportunities for Australian companies and investors.

The meeting also discussed cooperation in sports science, high-performance training, athlete development and sports management. Possibilities of leveraging Australia’s expertise in various sports, including cricket, hockey, wrestling and boxing, for the benefit of Haryana’s athletes were also explored.

The meeting also discussed promoting tourism and cultural exchanges. Australian High Commissioner Sh. Philip Green invited Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini to visit Australia.

The Chief Minister said that education, skills, innovation, sports and tourism can further strengthen people-to-people connections between the youth and institutions of the two countries.