Australia opening new Bangalore consulate; centre to boost tech ties with India

BANGALORE -- Australia is to establish a new consulate in Bangalore and to set up a centre of excellence for critical and emerging technology policy in India as part of efforts to drive the technology partnership between the two countries.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled Australia's plans during a virtual address to the Bengaluru Tech Summit, saying technology is at the forefront of the comprehensive strategic partnership he signed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.

The new consulate would focus on deepening Australia's ties with "India's vibrant innovators, technologists and entrepreneurs" and support Australian businesses in "one of the world's most important commercial centres", Australia's Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, said.

The new centre of excellence would elevate co-operation under an existing cyber and critical technology partnership and bring together Australian and Indian technologists, policy practitioners, academics, researchers and thought leaders, she said.

Bangalore, officially known as Bengaluru, is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than 8 million.

www.dfat.gov.au (ATI).