On Friday 14th May, the International Convention Centre Sydney will host the 2021 India Australia Business & Community Awards (IABCA), proudly supported by Global NSW. IABCA is currently the largest existing platform in Australia that celebrates the India Australia relationship while simultaneously contributing to its development.
This will mark the final IABCA Awards Gala to be held in Australia until 2023, as the platform is now scheduled to deliver it is inaugural Awards Gala in India in November 2022. Following the inaugural delivery in India in 2022, the IABCA Gala will return to India on a biennial basis and rotate between the two nations – A landmark accomplishment in the platforms near-decade long history.
Former Ambassador & Secretary Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Amb. Anil Wadhwa said, “It gives me great pleasure to extend my support to the IABCA Platform. Over the past few years this platform has proved its worth as an effective means to further enhance the multi-faceted and growing India-Australia partnership.’’
Established in 2014, IABCA is the brainchild of Sonia Sadiq Gandhi, a serial entrepreneur, founder of the multi-award-winning event management company, Gandhi Creations, an Australia Day Ambassador and a proud Indian-Australian.
Ahead of one of IABCA’s biggest years and its upcoming move to India in 2022, Indus Age reached out to chat with IABCA Founder, as well as some of the platform’s major partners to understand the significance of this move. We also touched on the platform’s emergence as an internationally recognised tool for cultural diplomacy and business growth between the two nations as stated in the DFAT India Economic Strategy 2035.
Speaking on the platform’s origin and purpose, IABCA Founder Sonia Gandhi said that “IABCA was designed to celebrate bilateral exchange across various sectors. I invite all members of the business community to attend the IABCA Global Leaders Forum on Friday 14 May 2021 as our guest at ICC, Sydney.”
When prompted to discuss the IABCA platform’s growth and scheduled move to India in 2022, Ms. Gandhi said the following.
“Having partnered with various State and Federal Government agencies across Australiafor nearly a decade, IABCA are pleased to announce that from 2022 this platform will move to India on a biennial basis in locations such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai. This exciting new development will enable IABCA to truly enhance its bilateral relationship building capacity and will represent a new highpoint for the vision that brought the platform to life in 2013.”
IABCA has partnered with the NSW Government, which will support its broader engagement strategy featuring initiatives such as the recently concluded twelve-month Access India program.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres, said the India Australia Business and Community Awards would complement other activities designed to promote greater links with the Asia-Pacific giant.
“Sustainable trade and investment are vital for jobs and prosperity in NSW,” Mr Ayres said.
“India’s rapidly expanding economy remains one of the world’s most promising sources of growth and continues to generate immense opportunities for Australian firms.”
Speaking on the IABCA platform, High Commissioner of Australia to India and Former IABCA Advisory Member. H.E Barry O’Farrell AO, said the following.
“As a former member of the advisory council, I welcome the IABCA’s initiative in hosting these awards and commend the nominees for their continued efforts to bring Australia and India closer together, now and into the future.”
To this day, IABCA maintains a growing alumni network of more than 1,400 businesses, professionals, industry leaders and bilateral figureheads across the globe. IABCA consistently engages with this alumni network and provides additional opportunities such as speaking engagements, event invitations, panel and advisory positions, and business collaborations. The chair of Australian Parliamentary Friendship Group of India, Australian MP Julian Leeser has said that his country shares “highest” relationship with India and the ties are “vital to both countries”.
Originating as a mere thought bubble in the mind of an entrepreneurial Indian-Australian in 2012, the IABCA platform has undergone a substantial degree of change since its inception. From its emerging relevance in global markets to its proven capacity to strengthen the relationship of our Governments with India, the IABCA platform has continually showcased the significant potential of the India-Australia relationship. IABCA looks forward to continuing sharing the wealth of success stories that this move will create to celebrate, strengthen, and develop the India-Australia relationship. For further information visit www.iabca.com.au
Celebrating & Strengthening the India-Australia Relationship added by Indian newspaper Sydney on
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