Bengaluru, 28th January, 2026: Australia is set to significantly deepen its engagement with Karnataka, positioning the state as a strategic hub for bilateral collaboration across education, technology and business.Addressing the delegates at an interactive Session on Tariff-Free Access for Indian Exporters under India-Australia ECTA, Mr. Vik Singh, Consul (Commercial) and Trade & Investment Commissioner, South Asia, Australian Trade and Investment Commission at the Bangalore Chamber of Industry & Commerce (BCIC) under the aegis of its International Business Expert Committee and in association with World Trade Center Bengaluru, highlighted the growing momentum in Australia–India ties, with Karnataka playing a central role in this expanding partnership.
Education and technology continue to be priority sectors in the Australia–India partnership. In a major development, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has announced plans to establish a branch campus in Bengaluru, with discussions already underway with the Government of Karnataka.
The campus is expected to become operational next year.“As one of the world’s leading universities, UNSW’s decision to establish a presence in Bengaluru reflects the confidence Australian institutions have in Karnataka’s talent ecosystem and innovation potential,” Mr. Singh added. “This campus will play a key role in strengthening academic collaboration, research partnerships and technology exchange between Australia and India.” Ranked among the world’s top universities, UNSW’s Bengaluru campus is expected to contribute significantly to advanced education, joint research initiatives and industry-linked innovation, further reinforcing Karnataka’s position as a global education and knowledge hub.
This initiative marks an important milestone in Australia’s long-term engagement with India and underscores Karnataka’s growing stature as a preferred destination for international universities, global investors and innovation-driven collaboration. “Karnataka has emerged as one of Australia’s most important partners in India, driven by strong synergies in education, innovation and enterprise.
This is reflected not only in growing trade and investment flows, but also in Australia’s decision to establish one of its largest consular presences in India here in Karnataka, second only to the High Commission in New Delhi,” added Mr. Singh.India-Australia ECTA-A Landmark Development K Ravi, Senior Vice President, Bangalore Chamber of Industry & Commerce (BCIC) said, “The implementation of tariff-free access for Indian exporters under the India–Australia ECTA is a landmark development that will significantly enhance India’s export competitiveness in global markets.
With 100 per cent of Australian tariff lines moving to zero duty from January 1, 2026, this historic step unlocks new opportunities across key sectors such as textiles, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery and agriculture —accelerating MSME-led growth, boosting employment and broadening India’s export reach.BCIC will play a key role in helping exporters navigate this transition by enabling industry preparedness, fostering buyer–seller engagements and ensuring that businesses, particularly MSMEs are well equipped to take advantage of the agreement.
This will further strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation between India and Australia”. The strengthening relationship is further underscored by the launch of a direct Sydney-Bengaluru flight by Qantas, enhancing connectivity and accelerating business, academic and people-to-people exchanges between the two regions.Mr. Singh highlighted that he major sectors where India is poised to benefit from deeper economic engagement with Australia. Clean energy features prominently, supported by Australia’s net-zero targets and increased investment in renewables.
Education and skills development remain a central focus, enabling greater student mobility, academic collaboration and joint research. Agribusiness gains momentum through improved market access, food processing opportunities and Agri-technology cooperation. Tourism is identified as a high-growth area, driven by rising outbound travel from India. Overall, the services sector, particularly IT, professional services and education emerge as the most significant long-term beneficiary of this partnership.
