The relationship between Australia and India has gained momentum in recent years due to multiple global factors, including the QUAD security alliance and the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI ECTA). The AI ECTA includes new market access opportunities for a range of agriculture commodities, and the horticulture sector will benefit from significant tariff reductions on a range of products. Australia and India have also agreed to cooperate to promote agricultural trade as part of the agreement and are working towards concluding an enhanced agricultural Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

This project is providing a structured and supported mechanism to capitalise on these new opportunities while addressing the lack of visibility of the support and partnership activities that Hort Innovation and other aligned parties (for example, universities) provide in the Indian market.

This will be achieved by establishing a Framework to develop the strategy to support establishing and developing an Australian Centre of Excellence in Horticulture in partnership with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

In broad terms, it is expected the investment in the development of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Horticulture will:

• Foster stronger relationships between Australia and India, particularly in the horticulture sector.
• Create a focal point for the activities Hort Innovation, the Australian horticulture industry and its members, research and academic institutions, and other aligned entities undertake in India.
• Inform more focused and mutually beneficial R&D, leading to better economic, social and environmental outcomes for Australia and Indian stakeholders
• Deliver more significant trade and investment outcomes through developing more robust networks and market and cultural insights.