Melbourne: Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan has described India as “a country we trust,” underscoring the growing strategic, economic and cultural partnership between India and the Australian state while praising the contribution of the Indian community to Victoria’s social fabric.
Addressing a large gathering of the Indian diaspora during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia on Thursday, Allan said Victoria holds India in high regard and remains committed to strengthening ties through education, business, innovation and people-to-people connections.
“Victoria respects India. We value your people. We welcome your students, your businesses, your families and your ideas,” Allan said, adding that the Indian community has become an inseparable part of the state’s identity.
“PM Modi, I would like you to take a message back to India. The state of Victoria respects India. We welcome your people..I say this to our strong Indian community. Your children never have to choose between being proudly Indian and proudly Victorian,” says Victoria’s premier pic.twitter.com/Mv8P8Vdbza
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Highlighting the evolution of bilateral relations, the Premier said the partnership with India goes well beyond trade and investment.
“India is not just a country we trade with, it is a country we trust,” she remarked, stressing the importance of the relationship built on shared values and mutual confidence.
Sending a message to the Indian-origin community living in Victoria, Allan said they should never feel compelled to choose between their cultural roots and their Australian identity.
“You are welcome here. Your children never have to choose between being proudly Indian and proudly Victorian. In this state, you can be both,” she said.
She further emphasized Victoria’s multicultural ethos, saying the state encourages people to preserve their heritage while embracing new opportunities.
“Here in Victoria, you can be whoever you want to be, yet stay who you are,” Allan added.
The Premier’s remarks were widely seen as a reflection of the strengthening India-Australia partnership, with the Indian diaspora playing an increasingly significant role in fostering closer economic, educational and cultural ties between the two nations.
