New Delhi: Ahmedabad is all set to welcome Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who arrives in the Gujarat city later today, and will begin his India visit by going to Sabarmati Ashram and then join Holi celebrations at the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar.
Hoardings and banners welcoming the Australian Prime Minister have come up in different parts of the city, and preparations are underway at the Narendra Modi Stadium for the fourth and final Test match of the India-Australia Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian PM Albanese will watch day One of the Test match on Thursday.
Ahead of his visit, the Australian Prime Minister told reporters in Canberra that his visit is a historic opportunity to strengthen relations with India.
Albanese who is heading a delegation of top business honchos, said: “I’m bringing a delegation of ministers and business leaders to India.”
“We have an historic opportunity to strengthen our relationship with India, at a time of extraordinary growth and dynamism in our region.
“Australia is a better place because of our large, diverse Indian-Australian community.
“This trip demonstrates our commitment to deepening our links with India, and to being a force for stability and growth in our region.”
The Australian Prime Minister arrives at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad at 4 pm today. He leaves for Sabarmati Ashram, and after that he will proceed to Raj Bhavan for a Holi Event.
On Thursday morning, he will visit the Narendra Modi Stadium to watch the Test Match for a brief while. He leaves for Mumbai where he will be presented a guard of honour on the INS Vikrant.
On Friday, he will be in Delhi for the ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan after which he will proceed to Rajghat to lay a wreath. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will call on him at the Hotel Leela Palace, after which PM Albanese will proceed to Hyderabad House to hold talks with PM Modi.
The two sides will witness exchange of agreements after which the two leaders will make their media statements. In the evening, the Australian PM will call on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan. He departs on Saturday morning.
PM Albanese is leading a delegation of 27 people, including Senator Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism, and Madeleine King MP, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia.
PM Albanese is accompanied by Cricket Australia’s recently appointed chair, former New South Wales premier Mike Baird, Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Todd Greenberg, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce, Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn, Fortescue Metals boss Andrew Forrest and Rio Tinto Australia chief executive Kellie Parker.
The other business honchos on his delegation include Macquarie Bank CEO Shemara Wikramanayake, Twiggy Forrest, Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott, ANZ boss Shayne Elliott, the President of BHP Geraldine Slattery, Alison Dean from Cochlear and Mark Vassella from Bluescope Steel.
PM Albanese is expected to make an official announcement of Deakin University of Australia establishing a campus in Gujarat’s GIFT City.
