The Business Council of Australia (BCA) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) welcome the appointment of Kim Krogh Andersen, Group Executive, Product and Technology, Telstra and Girish Ramachandran, President, TCS Asia Pacific as the inaugural co-chairs of the Australia-India CEO Forum Digital Economy Joint Working Group.
The Digital Economy Joint Working Group (JWG) will examine ways to deepen collaboration between Australia and India on the digital economy, including in areas such as AI, data flows, cyber security, skills and e-commerce.
As the world rapidly digitises, collaboration is key to developing the industries of the future, positioning Australia and India at the forefront, globally. Mr Ramachandran and Mr Krogh Andersen met recently in Australia to discuss the forward work plan of the JWG.
“The future of Indo Pacific will be defined by the relationship between India and Australia and the momentum we have gathered will help build this to a very strategic partnership. I look forward to contributing to and enhancing this partnership” noted Mr. Girish Ramachandran.
“Both Girish and Kim are recognised leaders in their fields, and we are excited they will lead this important JWG. They will guide discussion on how both countries can work closely together to drive outcomes in the digital economy,” Australia-India CEO Forum Director Jodi McKay said.
“The JWG will make recommendations to the Australian and Indian Governments in what is a rapidly changing, multi-faceted sector. Kim and Girish are committed to finding innovative ways to elevate the bilateral relationship.”
The Australian and Indian members of the JWG are now being appointed.
The digital economy was one of four priority sectors identified by the Australia-India CEO Forum at its March meeting in Mumbai.
Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Narendra Modi launched a revitalised CEO Forum this year to create a contemporary mechanism for Indian and Australian CEOs to make recommendations to both Governments to meet the ambitions of the Australia India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).
The CEO Forum’s recommendations to the Australian and Indian Governments are led by the JWG’s that meet between the formal CEO Forum meetings and will be presented at the 2024 Australia-India CEO Forum.
BCA and CII manage the secretariate for both countries and support the JWG’s in their deliberations throughout the year.
