Chief Minister Meets Bangalore Counterpart

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has enjoyed a productive meeting with the Chief Minister of the State of Karnataka, in Bangalore, as part of the ACT's trade mission to India, emerging from the introduction with the prospect of a return visit by Bangalore businesses to Canberra.

As Chief Minister of one of India's fastest-growing and most knowledge-rich cities, Mr Kumara Swamy is a significant political figure in India.

Mr Stanhope said the meeting with Mr Swamy had been very focused, with the Chief Minister and his officials displaying considerable knowledge about Canberra and Mr Swamy raising the possibility of leading a Bangalore business delegation to Canberra later this year.

Bangalore is India's third largest city, with a population of about 6.5 million. It is known as the 'Silicon Valley' of India and accounts for more than a third of India's software exports, valued at around A$20 billion last year.

Bangalore is also home to about 50% of India's biotechnology industry.

'Education partnerships with Bangalore and Canberra institutions were also raised by Mr Swamy,' Mr Stanhope said. 'There is enormous interest in Australian educational offerings.'

The Bangalore leg of the program also included visits to the Indian Institute for Science, India's premier science and technology organisation, and to Antrix Corporation, a major player in the commercialisation of India's space expertise.

The Chief Minister also hosted a networking function for ACT delegation members and their Indian company guests.