A new initiative aimed at strengthening agribusiness cooperation between India and Australia has been launched with the first ‘AgriMaitri India Roundtable’ held in New Delhi, bringing together stakeholders from both countries to develop collaborative solutions.
The roundtable, organised by Western Sydney University, took place at the Australian High Commission, marking the beginning of a structured effort to deepen bilateral engagement in the agribusiness sector. The initiative seeks to create a platform where policymakers, industry representatives, researchers, and other stakeholders can jointly identify challenges and design scalable solutions.
According to a report by The Australia Today, the inaugural meeting saw participation from 58 delegates representing a cross-section of sectors, including government bodies, AgTech firms, academic institutions, trade organisations, and industry players. The gathering facilitated discussions on shared opportunities and sectoral issues affecting agribusiness in both countries.
Vanita Yadav, who is leading the project, described the roundtable as an initial step toward fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders. She emphasised that the initiative aims to address key challenges through joint efforts and sustained engagement.
The AgriMaitri programme is being driven by a multidisciplinary team of experts from India and Australia, supported by partner institutions in both countries. It is funded under the Maitri Research Grants provided by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, which operates under the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The initiative draws its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Maitri’, meaning friendship, reflecting its focus on building cooperative partnerships. It aims to bridge gaps between the complementary strengths of the two nations in agribusiness by encouraging collaboration across different sectors.
Basant Maheshwari noted that the effort is designed to move beyond dialogue and translate discussions into actionable projects that can deliver economic and social outcomes.
The roundtable series is positioned as a strategic step to enhance India-Australia cooperation in agribusiness, with an emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and long-term growth through joint initiatives.
