Council claims $95m economic boost from India mission

The City of Melbourne has claimed its November 2025 business mission to India has delivered more than $95 million in economic value for the city, with councillors set to formally note the outcomes at the February 17 Future Melbourne Committee meeting.

According to the post-travel report, the week-long mission to Bengaluru, Delhi and Goa facilitated 520 new jobs in Melbourne linked to Indian technology firms, projected to generate $95 million in economic uplift to the local economy.

Led by Lord Mayor Nick Reece, Deputy Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell and Cr Andrew Rowse, the delegation undertook the city’s first mission to India in 18 years, building on momentum from last year’s Asia Business Mission to China and Japan, which the council claimed generated $80 million in projected trade benefits.

The India mission focused on five priority sectors: tech and innovation, higher education, sport, tourism and major events, and the creative economy. Over seven days, councillors delivered 13 speeches, met three heads of government, visited five major technology companies and signed or witnessed six international agreements.

Central to the reported economic impact were meetings with Indian tech giants with existing Melbourne presences, including Firstsource, HCLTech, Infosys, Tech Mahindra and Wipro. The report states that, following these engagements, two companies committed to a combined 520 new jobs in Melbourne, with further expansion discussions under way.

The delegation also signed Letters of Intent with the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the City of Delhi to explore deeper strategic ties, positioning the relationships as potential “Friendship City” partnerships.

At the 28^th Bengaluru Tech Summit, where Australia was the Country Partner, Cr Reece addressed global leaders and reinforced Melbourne’s pitch as a stable, open economy amid growing geopolitical uncertainty. He also used the platform to highlight Melbourne’s large Indian diaspora, which now numbers more than 400,000 people in the city.

The mission extended beyond technology. In Goa, the Lord Mayor witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding between Australian and Indian film and education bodies, including agreements involving the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, Deakin University and India’s Film and Television Institute. The agreements aim to strengthen co-productions, distribution and education exchange, further embedding Melbourne in India’s rapidly expanding creative industries.

In Delhi, the delegation met the city’s mayor and chief minister to discuss urban governance and sustainability, while the Deputy Lord Mayor addressed the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Business of Sport Summit, promoting Melbourne’s major events expertise.

The mission generated 37 media items across India and Australia, with reporting at the International Film Festival of India alone reaching millions online, according to the report.

The total cost of councillor participation was $34,757.92, slightly below the approved budget.

The trip also aligns with recent local efforts to strengthen ties with Melbourne’s Indian business community, including efforts to establish a Little India precinct in Melbourne.