India-Australia CECA Talks Strengthen Agri-Tech Ties and Trade Opportunities

The three-day stocktake visit for the India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) recently concluded in New Delhi. This meeting brought together high-level delegations from both nations to review progress and discuss critical areas of the CECA, including trade, services, mobility, and agricultural technology.

Led by India's Additional Secretary and Chief Negotiator, Rajesh Agrawal, and Australia's First Assistant Secretary and Chief Negotiator, Ravi Kewalram, the meeting built on momentum from the 10th round of negotiations held in Sydney in August 2024. Both sides engaged in constructive dialogue on market access modalities, aligning these with India’s food security objectives and exploring collaborative opportunities in agricultural innovation and supply chain resilience.

This stocktake reflects the growing strategic and economic partnership between India and Australia. Both nations evaluated the progress achieved thus far and outlined a roadmap for the early conclusion of the agreement. The CECA framework aims to strengthen trade ties, enhance supply chain cooperation, and unlock new opportunities in sectors critical to both economies.

Beyond the bilateral framework, India and Australia remain pivotal partners in regional initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) and the Trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI). These collaborations aim to promote regional cooperation and reinforce the resilience of supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region.

As key players in the Indo-Pacific region, India and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to fostering economic growth and regional prosperity through dialogue and cooperation.

The CECA discussions signal a promising future, with both nations poised to achieve mutual growth and shared objectives in trade and development.