Report on

Spices Board India’s Participation in

“Fine Food Australia-2014”

held from 15-18, September 2014

in Melbourne, Australia

Submitted by

B. J. Brahma, Deputy Director

&

Ramanna, Assistant Director

SPICES BOARD

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

GOVT. OF INDIA

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We express our sincere gratitude to Dr. A. Jayathilak, IAS, Hon’ble Chairman,

Spices Board, Govt. of India for offering us opportunity to participate and to

represent Spices Board in the international Food fair ‘FINE FOOD AUSTRALIA-2014,

in Melbourne, Australia held from 15th to 18th September.

We also cordially thank the Publicity, Marketing and Accounts Section of Spices

Board for extending prompt support for the arrangements made for successful

participation in Fine Food Australia-2014.

Ramanna Bhramar Jyoti Brahma

Assistant Director Deputy Director

Spices Board, Mumbai Spices Board, Ahmedabad

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CONTENTS

Sl.No Particulers Page No.

Introduction about Fine Food Australia 4

2 Brief about Australia 5

3 The host city Melbourne and its People 6

4 Australian cuisine and use of Spices 7

5 Consumer habits 8

6 Australian Herbs and spices 9

7 Spices Board Stall at the fair 10

8 Spices Market and trading of Indian Spices in Australia

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9 Future scope for trading of Indian Spices in Australia 12

10 Import regulations of Australia 13

11 Tariffs and other measures affecting trade 14

12 Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures 15

13 Australia–India Economic and trade relationship

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14 Australia–India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)

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15 Institutional Structure for trade Promotion 18

16 Indian Community in Australia 19

17 Enquiries and Feedback of the visitors 20

18 Photo Gallery 27

19 Annexure 35

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INTRODUCTION

ABOUT FINE FOOD AUSTRALIA

Fine Food Australia is an exclusive definitive international event for the food, beverage and hospitality industries in Australia. This is a massive showcase of the latest in food, drink, equipments and best products, services on offer and stay updated with in the different industry. It is a best chance for buyers to see and taste the very best products, tap into fresh ideas, explore the latest technology, equipment and business solutions and connect with leaders and peers in every fields. In this event, some of practical events of visual demonstration were displayed for the visitors for customer satisfaction. In the Fine Food Australia-2014 at Melbourne convention and exhibition centre, Melbourne, Australia.

Spices Board participated in the event and displayed wide range of Spices and Spices products. Shri.B.J.Brahma, Deputy Director and Ramanna, Assistant Director represented the Spices Board in the Fine Food Australia-2014. The following are the four co-participants participated and exhibited their Spices and Spices products at the Spices Board stall:

1). Shri. Jignesh Patel, Om Exim Corporation, Gujarat

2). Shri. R.Balamurugan, Jothi Agro Products Pvt Ltd., Tamil Nadu

3). Shri. Nilesh Naghibhaisenta, Kisan Foods, Gujarat

4). Shri.Jaspal Singh, Jaspal Singh & Spices, Amritsar

Spices Board’s stall attracted hundreds of visitors from Australia,New zeland, China, Korea, Singapore, Japan and other South Eastern countries in the Spices Board stall during the four day’s show from 15th to18th September, 2014.

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All the co-participant exporters could revive their business relation with the Australian as well as international buyers of different spices and spice products. The co-participants expressed their satisfaction over worth participation through the Board’s stall. The queries received were mostly about availability of different spice products like oils & Oleoresins, Curry powder, ginger, turmeric, pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, coriander, chilli etc.

Fine Food Australia, 2015 The Fine Food Australia 2015 Fair will be scheduled in Sydney Olympic Park between 20-23 September, 2015

BRIEF ABOUT AUSTRALIA AND HOST CITY MELBOURNE

Australia is an island continent and the world's sixth largest country (7,682,300 sq km). Lying between the Indian and Pacific oceans, the country is approximately 4,000 km from east to west and 3,200 km from north to south, with a coastline 36,735 km long. Canberra is Australia's capital city. With a population of approximately 320,000 and situated in the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra is roughly half way between the two largest cities Melbourne and Sydney. Australia is a unique and diverse country in every way - in culture, population, climate, geography, and history.

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Australia is one of the largest capitalist economies in the world with a GDP of US$1.5 trillion in 2013. Australia's total wealth is 6.4 trillion dollars. In 2013, it was the 12th largest economy in terms GDP. The Reserve Bank of Australia reported that it is the 19th-largest importer and 19th-largest exporter in the world. The Australian economy is dominated by its service sector, comprising 68% of GDP. The mining sector represents 19% of GDP. Economic growth is largely dependent on the mining sector and agricultural sector with the products to be exported mainly to the East Asian market.

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The City of Melbourne municipality covers 37.6 sq km and has a residential population of around 100,611 (as of 2011). On an average day, around 805,000 people use the city, and Melbourne hosts over a million international visitors each year. All of these residents, workers, shoppers and travellers can take a break in one of the around 145,000 cafe or restaurants. They can visit Melbourne's tallest building, the 300m high Eureka Tower, or its oldest building, the Mitre Tavern, built in 1837.

The entire Melbourne metropolitan area covers 7694 sq km and has a population of around 4.1 million

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The people of Melbourne

Melbourne's population is made up of many groups of people of all ages and from many different cultures. City residents include young professionals, international students and older couples looking to enjoy everything the city has to offer now that the kids have grown up and left home.

India and Australia co-operate in various multilateral fore. Australia supports India’s candidature in an expanded UN Security Council. Both India and Australia are members of the G-20, Commonwealth, IOR-ARC, ASEAN Regional Forum, Asia Pacific Partnership on Climate and Clean Development, and have participated in the East Asia Summits. Both countries have also been cooperating as members of the Five Interested Parties (FIP) in the

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WTO context. Australia is an important player in APEC and supports India's membership of the organization.

AUSTRALIAN CUISINE AND USE OF SPICES

Australian cuisine developed by its indigenous and colonial societies. Indigenous Australians have occupied the lands of Australia for some 40000–60000 years, during which time they developed a unique hunter gatherer diet, known as "bush tucker", drawn from regional Australian flora and fauna. People have their breakfast with cereals and milk. A vegemite sandwich is a pretty popular and easy breakfast or snack. Australian food culture includes the cafe culture with infinite varieties of the strong beverage. Some carry their lunch box at work. It is mainly sandwiches, wraps or left-overs from the previous night's dinner. Others go to food courts or small eateries and have a quick dish. The variety is overwhelming: Chinese stir fries, Vietnamese or Thai food, Indian curries, Italian pasta, Turkish kebabs are just some examples. Australians Dinner is the main meal of the day. It can be pasta, stir fry, steak, fish, salads. Generally something that can be ready quickly. Sometimes it is take away food: pizza or a frozen meal picked at the supermarket. With a high incidence of obesity in Australia and lots of cooking shows, more and more people are spending time in the kitchen making fresh food. The roast has its special place, on Sundays. There's more time available to cook a family meal and everyone is at home to sit together around the dinner table.

Australians and people around the world are changing what they eat because of the rising cost of food, according to a new global survey released today by international aid agency Oxfam as part of its new campaign GROW. Some 62 per cent of Australians surveyed are no longer eating the same foods they did two years ago, and 39 per cent of them attributed this to rising food prices. The survey was conducted by international research consultancy GlobeScan.

Consumer habits

A newly released report from BIS Shrapnel, one of Australia’s leading providers of industry research, has shown that the Australians food habits are changing rapidly. Consumers are now demanding red meat more often while swapping three courses for two; café chains are on the increase while independent cafés are falling; and retailers are now cooking from scratch more often to save on costs.

According to BIS, Australian consumers continued a trend to trade down in their choice of outlet, and while they are still dining out for lunch and dinner, they are not doing so as often nor do they spend as much money. Many foodservice operators are finding that their customer base has shrunk significantly, with meal services as a whole much quieter.

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Consumers are demanding red meat more often with 21 per cent of outlets reporting an increase in demand for the product. Coffee demand continues to rise, and poultry also was in high demand among consumers. Demand for fish & chips and bangers and mash are resign. According to BIS Foodservice, the market is expected to grow year-on-year for the next five years

Australian Herbs And Spices Herb or Spice Description Uses

Alpine Pepper (Mountain Pepper)

A mixed peppery blend with mountain pepper and pepper berry scented with forest anise and sumac

An all purpose salt and pepper sprinkle for meats, eggs, soups and vegetables Add some early in cooking

Forest Anise

A mixture of aniseed myrtle, lemon myrtle, aniseed myrtle essential oil used with white meats as a sprinkle.

Use with white meats and sea foods as a seasoning or infuse into finished sauces.

Forest Peppermint

A free-flowing light green powder with Peppermint flavor with vanilla finish.

Use with desserts, particularly with chocolate and also as a seasoning for white meats.

Fruit Spice

Fruit Spice An amazing fruity herb mix with a hint of lemon myrtle and the addictive quality of aniseed myrtle

An ideal fruit enhancer to make strawberries or any fruit more impactful. Great in curries.

Lemon Myrtle Sprinkle (Oz Lemon)

A lemon myrtle mix which is more lemony than lemon myrtle but used in all the same sorts of ways.

used in all the same sorts of ways. This means more flavour for less cost but all the versatility.

Mintbush Marinade

Menthol, mint, pepper and anise in a complex aromatic mix. The mixture has a combination of various green herbs

Ideal used as a marinade for any Mediterranean vegetables, olives and fetta, labni or other soft cheese prepared in oil.

Pepper berries

A bushy spice with a very hot peppery zing. The spice is a dark free-flowing powder that bleeds burgundy in sauces, butter and cream

As an Australian substitute for pepper but with a distinctive unique flavour.

Rainforest Rub

Contains macadamia nuts, aromatic herbs and spices in a natural(vegetarian) chicken flavoured base.

Use as a crusting or pre-dust, particularly with meats wrapped in paper bark or pastry.

Red Desert Dust An Australian Cajun seasoning powered with mountain pepper and native pepper berries

This seasoning added to meat stock, demi, mornay or as a grilled topping for meat dishes

Wylde Thyme A herbaceous mix with some Use as you would thyme,

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wild picked thyme and its tarragon and oregano similarities

oregano, native mint or other herbs which enhance tomato dishes and sauces

Yakajirri and Akudjura

Bush tomato complimented with dried conventional tomato, garlic and Australian herbs.

Used in soups, sauces and accompaniments but also as a marinade, crust or coating as for Wildfire Spice

Wattleseed Dark brown, free-flowing coffee-like roasted grounds with chocolate, coffee, hazelnut flavor.

Use as a flavouring for sweet or savory sauces or in batter, desserts and baked foods.

SPICES BOARD INDIA’S STALL AT THE FAIR:

We reached Melbourne on 13.09.2014 at morning 11.30 am and the same day itself we located the exhibition venue and different spice market centeres in Melbourne. On 14.09.2014, we have made all arrangements in the stall in Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Spices board India’s stall in the ‘T-7 pavilion’and our neighbouring stall was from Korean, Chines and Vietnam.

In the inaugural day of the fair, we reached the Spices Board stall by 9 am and the four Indian Spices exporters were also arrived in the stall. The fair was started by 10

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am in the morning. In the first day of the fair, there was very good response of visitors in the fair. A good number of enquiries received for Indian Spices from the importers and visitors in the 1st day of show. The Board’s official and the Indian Spices exporters have discussed with all the visitors and importers and noted down their requirement and specification of spices. The enquiries were received mostly on whole or ground, blending, seasoning and branded spices. The details of the enquiries and addresses of the importers are given separately in business visitors’ enquiry list. The show of the 1st day was closed by 8 pm. The 2nd day to 4th day of the fair was started by 10 am and closed by 5 pm. Every day, we have received number of enquires for Indian Spices from the visitors and importers. All visitors and importers are quite satisfied with the Indian Spices for its intrinsic quality though there is challenge coming from the other exporting countries. During the fair, Board’s official had visited the other stalls in different pavilions and it was observed that there was less number of spices stall was presented in the Fine Food Australia-2014. Some of visitors and exporters had also enquired about organic spices in the stall. Some of the visitors also came to the stall and discussed with the Board’s official and Indian exporters about their importing possibilities directly from India instead of brokers/agents. The fair was ended on 18th September, 2014 by 5 pm.

SPICES MARKET AND TRADING OF INDIAN SPICES IN AUSTRALIA

Australia is one of the major markets for Indian Spices in the World. Indian Spices has established a unique status among the buyers of Australia and overseas due to the intrinsic quality of Indian Spices which contributes India to take lead in the Export Market. In the financial year, 2012-13, India exported around 5448 MT of Spices to Australia and which value is Rs. 11652 Lakhs. . In Australia, most of the Indian Spices are available in wholesale, super market and retail our-let in the form of whole or ground, powder, blended and seasoning. The major branded Spices like Everest Masala, MDH masala, Mangal Masala, Ramdev, MTR etc. are also seen in Australian market. The branded Spices are slowly getting popular in all sections of people in Australia. Some of the Australian companies are used to sale Indian Spices in their own brand name like Maharajah’s Choice of Ostindo International Pty. Ltd., Sudh Spices of Aar kay international Pty. Ltd. Etc. In the market, the Indian spices are sold in air tight plastic packets, sealed plastic containers weighing about 50 gm to 1 kg. Powdered, Blended and Seasoning Spices are gaining more popular instead of whole or ground Spices in Australia due to the intensive labour cost for processing and blending of Spices in Australia. In the fair, few enquiries were also received for Organic Spices from the visitors and buyers. So, there is a scope for organic spice market in Australia.

FUTURE SCOPE FOR TRADING OF INDIAN SPICES IN AUSTRALIA.

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Australia is one of the world’s most urbanised countries, with about 70 per cent of the population living in the 10 largest cities. Most of the population is concentrated along the eastern seaboard and the south-eastern corner of the continent. The continent of Australia is located between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean with a total area of 7,686,850 sq km.

The popularity of Indian and Chinese foods is also gaining momentum among the Asian and Australian population. The Indian and Chinese restaurants are noticed full of mix population in the Australian cities.

Australia is a regular buyer of Indian spices like Pepper, Chilli, Turmeric, curry powders and spice oils & oleoresins. Export of spices from India to Australia showed continuous growth during the last five years.

Annual import of spices into Australia is considered to be around 10,510 MT which includes major spices like Pepper, Garlic, Chilli, Mustard, curry /spice powders. Major partners in spice trade are China, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Brazil.

The continued growth in the consumer-ready food market and the annual import volume of spices in Australia shows that there is a good market potential for Indian spices especially value added products like curry powder/mixes/paste and spice oils & oleoresins.

There is vast potential for expansion of Indian Spices trading in Australia due to the increasing population Asian people as well as changing food habits of Australia people. Many Australian people have been observed coming to the Indian restaurent searching for Indian foods which shows the increasing trends in Indian spices. In Australian Food Industry, there is wide range of use of spices like in Bakery, Confectionary, Dairy product, Drinks, Meat and Sea food etc. The Indian, Chinese, Korean, Thai restaurants are also seen in the Melbourne city using spices for making different dishes. The spices importers and buyers of Australia have reported that there is growing competition in trading of spices like black pepper, small cardamom, ginger, turmeric etc. But still India is leading the major share for export of Indian spices to Australia due to the supply of good quality of Indian Spices.

Import regulations of Australia

Australia has comprehensive controls on protect Australians from exposure to unsafe food. These controls include the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code, which is enforced by state and territory governments and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for imported food. There are three levels of

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government in the food regulatory system and each level of government plays a role in protecting public health and safety through regulating food (including imported food) for human consumption.

The Commonwealth Government works collaboratively with the New Zealand government and state and territory governments to develop food regulation policy. The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) sets government policy on food in consultation with Australian state and territory governments. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) develops food standards in line with this policy, which are then published in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

The Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is responsible for administering two sets of requirements with which imported food items must comply. The first set of requirements address quarantine concerns. The second set of requirements address food safety and are those set out in the .Imported Food Control Act. All imported food and food items must meet biosecurity requirements to be allowed into the country. Once imported food has met these requirements foods are monitored for compliance to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

Policy decisions about food are made by the Australia New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council which is chaired by the Minister for Health. This council, which includes Ministers for each state and territory government and the New Zealand government, receives policy advice from the Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC). This committee is chaired by the Department of Health. Relevant officials from state and territory and New Zealand food regulatory agencies are also represented on this committee.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) monitors food safety incidents worldwide and provides advice to the department on monitoring and testing imported food. FSANZ advises the department when food poses a medium-high risk to human health and on appropriate testing. It also provides risk assessment advice to state and territory regulators, who are responsible for monitoring all food at point of sale, including imported food. Like food that is produced domestically, food that is imported into Australia must meet Australian food standards. The monitoring of imported food is a responsibility shared across many government agencies, including those at local, state, territory and federal levels.

Importers are required to ensure that goods entering the commerce of Australia are correctly marked. Trade description markings must:

• be in English;

• be in prominent and legible characters;

• be on a principal label or brand attached to the goods in a prominent position in a manner as permanent as is practicable;

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• specify if a weight or quantity is net or gross if labelling on the goods includes a weight or quantity; and

• include the name of the country where the product was made or produced, and where specified, a true description of the goods.

Imported food must also comply with relevant provisions of the Food Standards Code. Food entering Australia is subject to legislation which requires imported food to be inspected and controlled using a risk-based border inspection program called the Imported Food Inspection Scheme, which is administered by DAFF. Under the scheme Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) provides risk assessment advice to DAFF on the level of public health risk associated with certain foods. DAFF is responsible for inspecting and sampling imported foods to ensure they comply with the Food Standards Code.

A customs declaration is required for most imports to Australia. Australia has developed an integrated cargo system (ICS) for imports. To use the system all customers must be registered with ICS. This clearance can be taken by importers or custom brokers (holding a license). Almost all custom entries are electronically processed, and preference is given to electronic processing. Imports subject to quantitative restrictions require a clearance from Australian Customs and Border Protection as well as AQIS

Tariffs and other measures affecting trade

Tariff rates are generally defined in the form of ad valorem duties but Australia and India apply specific tariffs to a small range of products. In Australia, these include certain cheeses, certain fruit and vegetable juices and used passenger motor vehicles. India applies specific tariffs for certain products, including textiles and garments. India also provides a number of exemptions from import duties for certain sectors or importers depending upon the industrial use of the import. Australia provides assistance to its food processing industry in the form of income support and sustainability grants. The Automobile Competitiveness and Investment Scheme (ACIS) provides import duty credits to eligible Australian automotive producers earned on the basis of eligible production, investment in plant and equipment and research and development activities as well as some grants for research and development.

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Tariffs, tariff rate quotas and other measures affecting agricultural trade

Tariff barriers to agricultural imports into Australia are low by world standards. Most Australian agricultural tariffs are applied at rates of between zero and 5 per cent. The simple average applied tariff for agricultural goods is less than 2 per cent. Most agricultural products are imported duty-free. All Australian agricultural tariff lines are bound under the WTO at rates from zero to 29 per cent, and the average bound tariff rate is 4 per cent. India’s agricultural tariffs have been progressively reduced over the past few years. Its current simple average applied MFN tariff for agriculture is 36 per cent. India maintains bound tariff rate quotas on items such as milk powder, maize, rape, colza or mustard oil, sunflower seed and safflower oil. Agricultural trade is affected not only by tariffs and similar measures, but also by the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements that most countries have in place to control pests and disease. In the case of Australia and India, SPS requirements have an impact on agricultural trade. SPS issues are addressed more fully in Section 5.5.

Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures

Both Australia and India apply SPS measures on imported plants, animals and their products to the extent necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health from risks associated with pests and diseases, as provided for under the SPS Agreement of the WTO to which both countries are parties. Australia bases its SPS measures on international standards where they exist and where they achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP). However, where such standards do not achieve Australia's ALOP, or relevant standards do not exist, Australia exercises its right under the SPS Agreement to apply measures based on a scientific assessment of the risks. Australia’s ALOP is expressed as providing a high level of sanitary or phytosanitary protection aimed at reducing risk to a very low level, but not to zero. Australia’s policy and regulatory activities s under the SPS Agreement fall within the responsibilities of several government portfolios. These are primarily the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), which is responsible for animal and plant quarantine; and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and its associated statutory authorities (notably Food Standards Australia New Zealand - FSANZ) which are responsible for public health and food safety. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for trade policy and legal aspects of Australia’s rights and obligations under the WTO SPS Agreement. Biosecurity policy is developed by Biosecurity Australia (a prescribed agency within DAFF) and implemented by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) whose responsibilities include

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ensuring border quarantine security, issuing import permits and providing export health certification.

Bio-security Policy

Australia uses a science-based import risk analysis (IRA) process to develop biosecurity policy. IRAs identify the quarantine pests and diseases relevant to an import proposal, assess the risks posed by them and, if those risks are unacceptable, identify and evaluate risk management measures that might be applied to reduce those risks to a level that achieves Australia’s ALOP. Australia is in the process of implementing the recommendations of the independent review of Australia’s Quarantine and Biosecurity Arrangements the Beale review. The recommendations include the development of new biosecurity legislation and streamlining the functions currently undertaken by AQIS, Biosecurity Australia and elements of DAFF.

Australia–India Economic and trade relationship

The Australia–India economic relationship has grown steadily in recent years. Australia is India’s eighth largest trading partner and India is Australia's fifth largest. India’s ranking among Australia’s export destinations has risen from twelfth to fourth in the period 2005-06 to 2011-12. Australia's strength in exporting primary products, particularly minerals and fuels, as well as services like education, positions us well to supply growing Indian industrial and consumer demand.

There are still major barriers to trade with India, despite recent reforms. The IMF has highlighted the importance of continued tariff reduction and the lowering of administrative barriers to trade. Indian tariff rates and trade barriers more generally remain among the highest in the world. In addition to tariffs, India imposes various duties, such as safeguard and anti-dumping duties, and non-tariff restrictions such as import bans and standards or certification agreements.

India has gazetted Australia as a reciprocating territory under its Arbitration and Conciliation Act. As a result, arbitral awards made in Australia are recognized by the Indian legal system.

Two-way goods and services trade totalled $15.2 billion in 2013. Major Australian exports to India in 2013 were coal ($4.8 billion); gold ($1.4 billion); education-related travel ($1.3 billion); and copper ore and concentrates ($1 billion). Major Australian imports from India in 2013 were personal travel services ($677 million); medicaments ($200 million); passenger motor vehicles ($210 million); and pearls and gems ($197 million).

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In 2013 Australia's exports to India totalled $9.5billion, or 3.6 per cent of total goods exports, making India has fifth-largest goods export market. Total goods imports were $2.4billion in 2013.

Australia exported $1.9 billion in services to India in 2013 primarily comprised of education exports with India the second-largest source of international students studying in Australia. Australia imported $1.4 billion in Indian services in 2013.

The total stock of Australian investment in India was around $6.5 billion in 2013, with Indian investment in Australia is $10.9 billion. Australian investment in India covers a range of sectors, including manufacturing, telecommunications, hotels, minerals processing, food processing, oil and gas, and the automotive sector.

The top Indian software firms – Tata Consultancy Services, Satyam, Infosys, Pentasoft and HCL – are represented in Australia and have a small but growing market presence. There has also been strong Indian interest in investing in Australian resource deposits.

Tourism is growing rapidly; 1,65,500 Australian tourists visited India in 2012 and 1,38,700 Indian tourists visited Australia in 2012.

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Australia–India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)

On 12 May 2011, then Minister for Trade Craig Emerson and Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma formally launched negotiations to conclude a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between Australia and India. The fifth round of negotiations was held in Canberra in May 2013.

A study indicated that an Australia–India CECA could result in a net increase in Australia's GDP by up to US$ 32 billion (A$45.5 billion) and India's GDP by up to US$ 34 billion (A$48.3 billion) over a period of 20 years.

Further information on the CECA

Australia and India are also involved in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations – an ASEAN centered proposal for a free trade area which would initially include the ten ASEAN member states and those countries which have existing FTAs with ASEAN.

Australia–India Chief Executive Officers' (CEO) Forum

The Australia–India CEO Forum is a mechanism for business from both countries to engage directly on ways to build the bilateral trade and investment relationship. The Forum held its first meeting in New Delhi in March 2012. It produced a report on practical ways to enhance trade and investment cooperation, including specific proposals in the transport sector, on skills development and infrastructure projects. The Forum also announced the appointment of two Investment Champions, to help prospective investors navigate through our respective systems.

The third meeting of the Australia–India CEO Forum took place in Melbourne on 6 December 2013. The participants committed to focus on issues where business-to-business engagement can make a tangible contribution to advancing bilateral economic ties and look to deliver substantive practical outcomes across key areas of common economic interest. The Forum highlighted the importance of investment in generating employment and economic growth and encouraged expedited approval processes, and less red and green tape in both countries.

Institutional structures for trade promotion

Australia–India Joint Ministerial Commissions (JMC) are held regularly, enabling interaction at a government and business level on a range of issues. There are also

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joint working groups (JWGs) in specific areas, including Energy and Minerals, Science and Technology, Education and Tourism.

The Australia India Business Council (AIBC) is a key Australian body for promoting business links between Australia and India.

An Indian delegation led by Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Hon’ble Minister of State (IC) for Commerce & Industry visited Sydney from July 17-20, 2014 to attend G20 Trade Ministers Meeting. A meeting was also held with the Business community organized by the Australia India Business Council & interaction with the group of eminent Indians living in Australia.

Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce

A Charter was signed by the Prime Ministers of both India and Australia at Canberra in 1986, for the formation of two institutions viz; the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce and the Indo-Australian Joint Business Council. With over 500 members, the Chamber now represents almost the entire range of Indo-Australian business community. These 500 members include, leading Australian and Indian companies doing business across and between the two countries. They also represent a broad spectrum of business activities – automobiles, building and construction, food processing, agri-business, mining and energy, textiles, banking and financial services, healthcare, software and business process outsourcing, logistics, migration, tourism and entertainment. The fact is that the Indo-Australian business is expanding to newer and newer areas. The Chamber Secretariat is situated at "Grace Building", IV Floor, No.25, McNichols Road, Chetpet, Chennai-600 031. India Tel: 044-28361285, Fax: 044-28363287, Email: indaust@dataone.in/ admin@indoaustchamber.com

Indian Mission and Posts in Australia

Besides the High Commission in Canberra, India has Consulates in Sydney, Melbourne & Perth and an Honorary Consul in Brisbane.

Indian Community in Australia

There is a rapidly growing Indian community in Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that over 390,000 people of Indian descent live in Australia (as at the 2012 census). In addition, there are a sizeable number of people of Indian origin from countries such as Fiji, Malaysia, Kenya and South Africa. They are

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contributing significantly to the Australian economy as teachers, doctors, accountants, engineers and I.T. professionals. India is now the third largest source of immigrants to Australia, after UK and New Zealand and the second largest source of skilled professionals. Currently there are nearly 35,000 Indian students in Australia.

ENQURIES AND FEED BACK FROM VISITORS

During the fair interaction took place between visitors and Board official’s in the Spices Board pavilion. In the interaction hours all the visitors raised quarries and views about the Indian Spices and its quality standard. The Board’s official present in the stall had replied all the queries satisfactorily to the visitors. Some of Important feed back and quarries are as follows:

1. Most of the Visitors are quite satisfied with Indian Spices and its intrinsic quality and show their interested to purchase Indian Spices.

2. Some of the visitors enquired about certified organic Spices from India.

3. Some of the visitors informed that the Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service Act forced to heat treatment of whole lot of Spices. The heat treatment is cost effective and it leads to inferior quality and less attractive in colour to the customers. So, they have requested the Spices Board to take initiative for maintaining the purities of Indian spices by the Indian exporters.

4. Some buyers are concerned about the presence of Salmonella in Chilli powder. and requested the Spices Board to take action for controlling Salmonella in India spices by the Indian exporters.