Redlands Coast delegates to capitalise on India trade opportunities

Redland City Council’s recent trade delegation to India to explore trade and export opportunities has resulted in Indian media labelling the city a “premier investment hub”.

Led by Council’s Economic Development and Investment team and including representatives from five Redlands Coast businesses, the delegation visited two major international trade events – the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024 (GIM) in Chennai, and Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 (VGGS) in Gandhinagar.

Covering the trade events, numerous Indian media outlets, both online and print, including notable names such as The Free Press Gujarat, Naitik Samachar, Western Times, and the India Education Diary, reported that Redlands Coast was emerging as a premier investment hub following successful engagement with India.

The outlets reported that Council “led engagements that resulted in fruitful outcomes, solidifying robust, long-term partnerships with Indian businesses”.

“This collaborative effort, generously supported by Trade and Investment Queensland, has not only enhanced economic ties but has also strategically positioned Redlands Coast as a key investment destination on the global stage,” the India Education Diary reported.

Delegate Adam Williams of Bunji Enterprises/SupplyAus addresses a round table meeting organised by Deakin University at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, India.

VGGS is India’s premier global business summit and provided an opportunity for Council and Redlands Coast businesses to connect and forge ties with potential business partners, industry leaders, and government officials from around the world.  GIM is a biennial event and also attracted global investors, businesses, and government representatives.

The delegation to India was timely in the context of the ground-breaking Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement signed in December 2022 – the first of its kind between India and a western nation.

The agreement has removed tariffs from a substantial portion of Australian exports to India and imports from India and opened the door to a wealth of trade and export possibilities.

The rewards from attending the business summits are expected to be invaluable with insights being gleaned into industry trends, market dynamics and business strategies relevant to the Indian market.

Business tours and networking sessions with industry leaders, government officials and potential partners, offered a chance for the delegation to conduct business in the person-to-person relationship-building scenario that is preferred Indian business etiquette.

Delegation members meet with the Honorable Home Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghvi.

Local business representatives who joined the self-funded delegation have discussed with Council the connections they made on the trip and where these could lead. Their feedback included:

Adam Williams, Co-Founder, SupplyAus, Redland Bay: “It is essential for businesses like Aromas to be able to partner and work with different levels of government to raise the profile of Indigenous business to countries like India. The support from Council with this trade venture has enabled us to put our brand front and centre to grow and promote within India and the opportunities this region provides.”

Virginia Tobias, CEO, Brisbane Alarm Monitoring Security Services, Cleveland: “Thanks again for an amazing trip. It was such an incredible experience. I went with an open mind to the events. I am sure that there will be future things to eventuate from the connections I made.”

Dr Ram Mohan, Director, Star Promotional Products: “Thank you so much team Redlands for organising such a wonderful trip. Star Promotions was able to connect with a few new suppliers and explore more new business opportunities. Pet treats and second or granny homes are other areas of new businesses being explored.”

Muthukannan Paulvannan, Founder, Tradeinsafe: “Redlands Coast is a trailblazer in global engagement and stands as the beacon of Australia’s collaborative spirit. By strategically focusing on key sectors, we not only pioneer innovation but also forge lasting partnerships. The area’s recent recognition in India as a ‘Premier Investment Hub’ solidifies our commitment to breaking new ground and fostering international connections.”

The India Trade delegation yielded significant interest from prominent Indian investors, with one notable interested investor being Astral Pipes, a billion-dollar company.

Following the Council delegation’s meeting with them in Gujarat, Astral’s Head of International Marketing, Hiten Mehta, recently visited Redlands Coast to evaluate investment prospects.

Astral’s Head of International Marketing Hiten Mehta addresses the Business Brews event in Capalaba.

Council hosted Mr Mehta as a guest speaker at Council’s 10th Business Brews networking event on 22 February at Bacchus Brewing, Capalaba, that was attended by 45 people representing business, local and state government, elected representatives, and peak bodies.

“The purpose of my visit (to Australia) was to look into the possibilities of how Astral could establish business in Queensland especially due to the fact that Queensland is hosting the 2032 Olympics,” Mr Mehta said.

“Astral’s products are currently installed in more than 25 countries across the globe. Australia is one of the few places where Astral is yet to make a presence.

“During my visit I met various stakeholders who could be primary or secondary lead or source for our business. The outcome was encouraging.”

Council delegations such as the Indian trip have proven incredibly worthwhile in putting Redlands Coast on the global stage and showing the world what local businesses are capable of.

A similar Council-led delegation to Taiwan in 2019 delivered on-the-ground initiatives for the city in recent years including the use of drones to manage mosquitoes, and Karragarra Island hosting Queensland’s first on-road autonomous vehicle.

Notably, in 2023, the Taiwan trip resulted in two leading Taiwanese investors establishing Australian branches of their businesses on Redlands Coast.

These investors are currently making short-term investments exceeding $3 million locally, with anticipated growth over time.

Such market visits demonstrated Council’s support of the Redlands Coast’s economy through helping local enterprises meet the challenges of becoming “export ready” and tapping into lucrative markets such as India.

The Business Brews evening attended by Mr Mehta is a regular event held as part of Council’s commitment of support for Redlands Coast industries and businesses. It is an opportunity for people to meet other manufacturing businesses, to talk with one another about issues and opportunities and share information about government-funded assistance programs.

For more information on how Council supports businesses on Redlands Coast, visit the Business and investment page on Council’s website.