Rajasthan Sister-State Relationship

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:09): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH: On Thursday 19 November 2015, the South Australian government formalised its economic and cultural ties with the Indian state of Rajasthan. A sister-state relationship, signed at a ceremony in Jaipur, has its origins in the South Australian India Engagement Strategy, released in October 2012.

In visits to India during 2014 and 2015 by the Premier and Deputy Premier, the state of Rajasthan was identified as an opportunity for economic cooperation. In August this year, I led a business mission to the region and started discussions with the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje. These discussions advanced rapidly, and the assistance of Austrade and South Australia's Department of State Development was provided.

Cabinet resolved in October 2015 that a relationship should be formalised at a signing ceremony at the Resurgent Rajasthan Partnership Summit in 2015, where Chief Minister Raje's stated objective was that Rajasthan become the most developed state in India. Resurgent Rajasthan's two-day partnership summit was attended by global industry heavyweights, including Cyrus Mistry of Tata Sons; Adani Group Chief, Gautam Adani; Reliance Group Chairman, Anil Ambani; and Anand Mahindra of the Mahindra Group. They were joined by senior ministers in the Indian national government and thousands of business and cultural representatives from around the world.

Bearing witness to the event were representatives from the South Australian business community, including Sydac, SAGE Automation, NN Occupational Health, AAMC Training, the South Australian Cricket Association and Rubicon Water. The delegation was assisted by Australia's High Commissioner, Patrick Suckling; the Department of Foreign Affairs; and officials from Austrade. In my discussions with the Chief Minister, she outlined plans to encourage new ideas and relationships which will lead to investment and job creation.

On behalf of the South Australian government, I affirmed our willingness to establish partnerships and collaborations in Rajasthan that will mutually benefit both regions. The state government recognises that South Australia's ongoing prosperity depends on our trade and investment in growing international markets. The sister-state relationship is based on a two-way exchange of research, policy and technical capabilities. It provides partnership and collaborative opportunities across key sectors for the region where South Australian businesses can offer services and product support.

The new trade relationship arises as global trade becomes easier. The digital age, along with faster and easier air travel, is bringing nations and cultures together. At the touch of a screen, we share information, data and experiences. This has opened up a growing area of international trade—the services sector. Service providers can grow their business with institutions in other countries through joint ventures and partnerships to their mutual advantage. In this new era, we will see an increase in two-way trade and two-way investment between our two states. I note that minister Robb is negotiating with the government of India at the moment for a free trade agreement. It is not just what we can do in each other's markets; it is also what we can do together.

Currently, there are 65,000 South Australian jobs that are linked to exports. Our aim is to increase that number through relationships such as this with Rajasthan. The next step in the partnership has seen officials from both states begin work on a cooperative action plan to identify and deliver key projects. Collaboration on sustainable water management will facilitate investment in South Australian water research, policy and technical capabilities in a number of areas, such as groundwater research, water quality, aquifer recharge, and education training and capacity building.

Rajasthan comprises about 10 per cent of India's land mass and about 5 per cent of the country's population, but it has marginally over 1 per cent of the country's water resources. Water conservation and management and environmental sustainability are key priorities for the current and future prosperity of the region. For the business sector, there are opportunities across these fields. There is an inbound mission from India planned for January and an outbound mission from South Australia in August to India. I will update the house on further developments. The South Australian government commends the cooperation—

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH: —of the state of Rajasthan in promoting this partnership, and we commend the assistance of the Australian and Indian national governments.

The SPEAKER: I draw to the attention of the member for Hartley, who departed yesterday under the sessional orders, standing order 142:

While a Member is speaking, no other Member may make a noise or disturbance or converse aloud or speak so as to interrupt the Member speaking except on a point of order.

Accordingly, the house having given leave to the minister to make that statement, I call the member for Hartley to order.