NSW Premier Minns to Boost India Ties: Business, Education, Culture

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns is scheduled to lead an official delegation to India from August 31 to September 3, 2026. This significant visit aims to strengthen economic, educational, and cultural connections between the Australian state and India. Engagements are planned for both New Delhi and Mumbai during the four-day itinerary.

Deepening Economic Engagement

New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state and home to Sydney, views India as one of its most crucial trading partners. The value of goods traded between NSW and India reached AUD 6.87 billion (USD 4.86 billion) in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Premier Minns stated his pride in selecting India for his inaugural overseas visit, underscoring the importance of this relationship.

The visit will focus on fostering government and business collaborations designed to boost trade and attract new investments. It will also identify fresh business opportunities across a diverse range of sectors. The Indian community’s substantial contributions to NSW further highlight the robust bilateral ties.

Key Collaboration Sectors

The delegation intends to explore potential partnerships across multiple critical sectors. These include education, research and innovation, and the agri-food industry. Clean energy, critical minerals, technology, tourism, and advanced industries are also on the agenda for discussions.

Beyond economic considerations, the relationship between India and New South Wales extends significantly into tourism and education. Between April 2024 and March 2026, approximately 174,000 Indian visitors traveled to NSW. Furthermore, over 28,000 Indian students pursued studies in the state during the same period.

Leveraging Established Partnerships

This upcoming visit will build upon the existing ‘sister-state relationship’ between New South Wales and Maharashtra, a major economic hub in India. This partnership, formalized in 2012, has focused on collaborative efforts in vocational skills training, agriculture, water management, and waste treatment technology. NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey will accompany Premier Minns to India, participating in key discussions.

Following the main delegation visit, Premier Minns is slated to travel to Kathmandu. Treasurer Mookhey will extend his engagements with discussions in Bengaluru, specifically targeting trade, investment, and technology sectors.