Former Minister for Trade and Investment, who had played a crucial role in Australia India Trade closer ties than ever

Hon Andrew Robb has been a role model for Australia/India relations, in particular he is very famous for being an inspiration for many other political leaders in Australia. “There is something special going on in India. The enormous vision of Prime Minister Modi has excited many people. Australia is looking forward to being a part of this very important period in India’s re-emergence as a significant power,” Andrew Robb said during one of his earlier trade mission trips. He led a trade mission to India of more than 450 Australian business leaders, including Rio Tinto chief Sam Walsh, Woodside CEO Peter Coleman and Hancock Prospecting chair Gina Rinehart. ABWI visited eight cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh and Kolkata. “This high-level delegation has shown the Indian business community that Australians are willing, as we would say, to put skin in the game,” Andrew Robb said at the time.

Mr Arjun Surapaneni (CEO, Victorian Institute of Technology),and a leading successful entrepreneur, has described the Hon Andrew Robb AO as a Statesman and one of the most capable, intellectual and inspirational leaders who has made a great contribution to Australia as well as building the solid foundation between Australia and India through the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) which would redefine trading  and bilateral relationships and lead to unparalleled growth between the two economies. “We look forward to his next visit to India as a Special Trade Envoy who has built a great friendship between the two countries”.

“India presents some enormous prospects for Australian exporters on account of a market of 1.2 billion people which includes a rising middle class. In particular, a broad range of our quality services have the scope to play a notable role in assisting India’s economic transformation. We can provide services directly as well as help build new capacity within the Indian economy to meet increasing demand,” he said.India is the world’s largest democracy and has a market of 1.2 billion people. Its youthful population, diversified economy and growth trajectory present significant opportunities for Australian business, especially in the education, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, mining and services sectors.India is Australia’s 12th largest trading partner with two-way trade worth around $15 billion and is it’s seventh largest export market.

Environment Minister,the Hon Greg Hunt, praised Mr Robb’s achievements and said, “I don’t think anyone has done as good a job as Trade Minister for Australia”. Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull, said about Mr Robb, he had been “the most successful Trade Minister in the country’s history”.

Hon Andrew Robb retired in Feb 2016, feeling he still had another career that he wanted to pursue, particularly in the private sector and in the mental health area.  Mr Robb sealed trade deals with China, Japan and South Korea, and signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement in New Zealand during his time as Trade Minister.