GST has been one of the priorities for the Modi Government and is often viewed as one of the economic game-changers in India.  On GST, India has a lot to learn from Australian experience. As in Australia, GST is engaging the minds of our political leadership, economists and business persons and is currently being discussed in parliament.  The effort of the Government is to work with State Governments to evolve a consensus.

In this connection, a delegation of 13 State Finance Ministers and their representatives including from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, UP, Andhra Pradesh visited Sydney from 27-30 September 2015.

 

During their visit the delegates met Hon Mike Baird, Premier, Hon Gladys Berejiklian, Treasures and Hon Stuart Ayres, Minister for Trade. The delegation was also briefed on GST by Mr Blair Comely, Secretary Department of Premier and Cabinet and Dr Ken Henry, former Secretary to the Treasury.

 

The list of Delegates:

 

Government of NCT of Delhi

 

Shri Manish Sisodia, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister/Finance Minister

 

Government of Andhra Pradesh

 

Shri Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Hon’ble Finance Minister

 

Government of Haryana

 

Capt. Abhimanyu, Hon’ble Finance Minister

 

Government of Himachal Pradesh

 

Shri Prakash Chaudhary, Hon’ble Excise & Taxation Minister

 

Government of Madhya Pradesh

 

Shri Jayant Malaiya, Hon’ble Finance & Commercial Taxes Minister

 

Government of Punjab

 

Sardar Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Hon’ble Finance & Planning Minister

 

Government of Rajasthan

 

Shri Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Urban Development and Housing Minister

 

Government of Tamil Nadu

 

Shri M.C. Sampath, Hon’ble Commercial Taxes and Registration Minister

 

 

Government of Telangana

 

Shri Eatela Rajender, Hon’ble Finance & Civil Supplies Minister

 

Government of Uttar Pradesh

 

Shri Biresh Kumar, Principle Secretary, Commercial Taxes

 

UT of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli

 

Shri Sandeep Kumar, Development Commissioner/Secretary (Taxation)

 

Government of Kerala

 

Dr. Rajan Khobragade, Commissioner, Commercial Taxes

 

Government of Uttarakhand

 

Shri Dilip Jawalkar, Commissioner of Commercial Taxes

 

Government of Gujarat

 

Dr. P. D. Vaghela, Commissioner, Commercial Tax

 

Goods and Services Tax Network

 

Shri Navin Kumar, Chairman (GSTN)

 

Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers

 

Shri Satish Chandra, Member Secretary

 

Government of India

 

Smt. Rashmi Verma, Special Secretary, Department of Revenue