New Delhi

Describing India as a “priority partner,” Andrew Barr, Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, said Canberra is aiming to substantially expand cooperation with India across education, tourism and long-term investment during his ongoing visit.

In an interview with ANI, Barr emphasised India’s importance as Canberra’s largest diaspora community and one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies. He said the current mission places strong emphasis on promoting the city’s two leading export sectors—international education and tourism.

Referring to Canberra as Australia’s “Knowledge Capital,” Barr highlighted the city’s unique concentration of universities, research institutions and policymakers. The ACT enrolls more than 60,000 tertiary students annually, including over 20,000 international students, with India emerging as the second-largest source country.

Barr said the relationship with India must evolve beyond student recruitment to include deeper collaboration in research, joint academic programmes, innovation and skills development. He added that Canberra’s core economic strengths—education and research, public administration, technology and cybersecurity, healthcare and clean energy—closely align with India’s development priorities.

Addressing concerns around Australia’s student visa risk assessment framework, Barr clarified that visa policy is determined by the federal government but reiterated that Indian students remain highly valued. “System integrity is important, but so is accessibility. Indian students are welcome in Canberra, and their contribution—culturally, socially and economically—is recognised and respected,” he said.

Acknowledging growing global competition for international students from countries such as Canada and Germany, Barr said Canberra continues to focus on quality education, safety, strong employment outcomes and a high standard of living.

Canberra was ranked the world’s top city for quality of life in 2025 by Oxford Economics, supported by three decades of uninterrupted economic growth, low unemployment and a strong public-sector base.

As Australia’s longest-serving tourism minister, Barr said Canberra’s visitor economy reached AUD 3.1 billion in the year ending September 2025, with India now the fifth-largest international source market. He said the city aims to double annual Indian tourist arrivals to 30,000 by leveraging Singapore Airlines connectivity and promoting Canberra’s mix of culture, natural attractions and major events.

For Indian investors, Barr highlighted Canberra’s long-term stability and city-shaping infrastructure projects, including light rail expansion, education and health precincts, and upgrades to digital capabilities.

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“India is not just a market for us—it is a long-term partner. This mission is about strengthening that partnership so Indian students, visitors and investors continue to see Canberra as a place to study, visit, invest and build a future,” Barr said.