PM Modi, feted by Australian PM as ‘the boss’, says India a force of global good

The deepening strategic ties between India and Australia are rooted in “mutual trust and mutual respect” and the two sides are focused on enhancing connectivity and trade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a massive diaspora event in Sydney that he addressed alongside his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.

Addressing chanting supporters at the 21,000-capacity Qudos Bank Arena, Modi highlighted the role played by the 750,000-strong Indian Australian community in strengthening relations in diverse fields. He played up the achievements of his government, ranging from direct benefit transfers to millions to ambitious renewable energy targets.

Modi greeted Albanese on his arrival at one of Sydney’s biggest indoor stadiums with a handshake and a hug, and both walked in to a traditional welcome by a representative of Australia’s indigenous community and several religious leaders from the Indian side. After they entered the arena to the beating of drums and percussion instruments, Albanese joked that even rock star Bruce Springsteen was not accorded such a welcome. “Prime Minister Modi is the boss,” he said.

In a speech that lasted almost 50 minutes, Modi invoked not just the many contributions of the Indian diaspora but also yoga, cricket and the reality show “Master Chef”, popular in both countries. He contended that India is being held up as a “force of global good” and a “bright spot” in the world economy.

The biggest contributor to the burgeoning India-Australia relationship, Modi said, is “mutual trust and mutual respect”, which have developed not just due to diplomatic relations but also because of the Indian diaspora’s contributions. “You are the real strength of it,” he said, speaking in Hindi.

“There is a geographical distance between us, but the Indian Ocean connects us together. Our ways of life are different but now yoga connects us. Cricket has joined us for a long time, and now tennis and films are also connecting us. Our ways of cooking are different but Master Chef connects us,” Modi said, clad in his trademark white kurta-pyjama and a dark waistcoat.

The Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) signed in 2022 is expected to double trade in five years and the two sides are now working on a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) and building resilient and reliable supply chains. “This will strengthen business in both countries and the world will get new belief,” Modi said.

Direct flights between India and Australia have increased, and their number will grow further in the coming days and the recognition of each other’s educational degrees will benefit students, he said. The two sides have reached an agreement on a migration and mobility partnership agreement that will make it easier for skilled Indian professionals to come and work in Australia, he added.

Modi also announced the opening of a new deputy high commission in Brisbane to meet a longstanding demand of the Indian diaspora. “Very soon, a consulate will be opened in Brisbane,” he said.

Modi, who is visiting Australia for the first time since 2014, noted that his previous trip was also the first by an Indian premier in 28 years. Albanese’s presence at the arena shows his love for Indians, he said after the two leaders unveiled a foundation stone marking the renaming of a local neighbourhood as “Little India”.

Pointing to the role of the Indian diaspora in fields ranging from politics to business, Modi said there was a time when India-Australia relations were defined by three Cs – Commonwealth, cricket and curry. They were defined by three Ds – democracy, diaspora and dosti – and three Es – energy, economy and education.

However, the greatest expansion of these historic ties has occurred in recent years and the Australian people are “so large-hearted, good and trustworthy” that they openly accept India’s diversity, he said. “We are not friends only in times of happiness, a good friend is there in good and bad times. Last year, when Shane Warne died, many Indians were grief-stricken along with Australians, it was as if we had lost one of our own,” he said.

Both the diaspora and India’s population of 1.4 billion have a dream of seeing a developed country. “India has no dearth of capability or resources, today the world’s biggest and youngest talent factory is in India,” Modi said, listing among India’s achievements the world’s fastest vaccination programme and fastest growing large economy.

India is also number one in smartphone data consumption, fintech adoption, milk production, and number 2 in internet users, mobile manufacturing, and rice, wheat and sugarcane production, and third largest start-up eco-system, and has the third largest automobile market and civil aviation market. While the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has described India as a “bright spot” in the global economy, the strength of Indian banks is also being praised, Modi said.

Referring to India’s Digital Stack, or digital solutions for identity, healthcare and payments, Modi said the government has opened 500 million bank accounts for the poor over the past nine years and transformed the public service delivery system. A total of 500 billion Australian dollars have been sent to the bank accounts of the needy in the past nine years, while the universal public interface (UPI) has taken financial inclusion to new heights as it accounts for 40% of global real-time digital payments.

“So many digital platforms are making all Indians powerful. The world wants to know about all the steps being taken by India,” he said, adding that while the country has hanged according to the needs of the current era, it has held on to its fundamental values.

He also highlighted the theme of India’s G20 presidency – one earth, one family, one future – and spoke about the country stepping up to help others in need, such as during the recent earthquake in Turkiye. “Because of this attitude, India is being called a force of global good,” he added.

“Sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas sabka prayas – this is the basis of our domestic governance and the vision for global governance,” Modi said.

Albanese, who addressed the gathering before Modi, noted that as he completed his first year as prime minister, he had already met the Indian leader six times. He said the Indian diaspora has “contributed so much to this country” and “will always be the lifeblood” of the bilateral relationship. Albanese announced that the new Centre for Australia-India Relations will be based at Parramatta, a suburb of Sydney.

“Now we want to see more connections – more Australian and Indian students living and studying in each other’s countries… More business leaders and artists and families sharing your experiences, and your knowledge, and your ideas,” he said.

Albanese told the audience, which included external affairs minister S Jaishankar, Australian foreign minister Penny Wong, communications minister Michelle Rowland, energy minister Chris Bowen and several local politicians, the Indian diaspora had brought the “spirit of the world’s biggest democracy to Australia”. He added, “And you have helped make our democracy stronger and more inclusive...You make our nation and our shared communities better. You make Australia stronger.”