Released 09/02/2026
The Chief Minister and Minister for Economic Development, Tourism and Trade is leading an ACT trade mission to India this week, strengthening Canberra’s education, tourism and sporting ties with one of the world’s largest and fastest‑growing economies.
The Chief Minister will be joined by senior representatives from the ACT’s major tertiary institutions, including the University of Canberra and the University of New South Wales Canberra – both of which have a growing presence in India – along with representatives from the Australian National University, the Australian Catholic University, VisitCanberra and the CEO of Cricket ACT.
The six-day mission (including travel time) is a key part of Canberra’s International Engagement Strategy, with India’s place as a priority partner reflecting the significance of our people‑to‑people connections, including being our largest diaspora community, and the importance of our education, research, and economic relationships.
Supported by the Australian Government, including The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Austrade and Tourism Australia, the mission aligns closely with the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). It will include engagements with government agencies, higher education institutions and agents and tourism industry leaders. Meetings will focus on growing collaboration across education, research, tourism and sport.
The Chief Minister said the mission will place a major emphasis on promoting Canberra’s two major export industries – international education and tourism.
“India is the ACT’s second largest market for international students, with more than 2,500 Indian students undertaking tertiary studies last year – a testament to the strong ties between Canberra and India. It makes sense to strengthen and expand the opportunities from this relationship,” the Chief Minister said.
Tourism will also be a key focus of the mission, with India the Territory’s fifth largest international market for visitors, attracting 15,000 visitors in the 12 months to September 2025, which represents 7% of all international arrivals to the ACT.
“India and its people play a significant role in our visitor economy – a connection that offers significant growth potential to leverage leisure, business events, students, the visiting friends and relatives of students, as well as an emerging high school group tour market. We hope to build on this important connection through this trade mission,” he said.
“Growing the number of Indian tourists to Canberra is an essential element in growing our visitor economy and passenger numbers to support the resumption of direct flights to Canberra from Singapore Airlines.
“Singapore Airlines has direct flights to Singapore from major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Amritsar, which could feed Indian tourists into a future direct Singapore to Canberra service. Doubling the number of Indian tourists to Canberra each year to reach 30,000 would mean around 600 tourists a week, filling the equivalent of two international flights each week.
“This Indian tourism growth goal, combined with increased visitor numbers out of the United Kingdom, Europe, China and the ASEAN nations is what is required to see a resumption of Singapore Airlines services to Canberra.
“During 2026 we will work closely with Tourism Australia, VisitCanberra, Canberra Airport and key tourism partners to advance these goals.”
As part of the two‑day Delhi leg, the Chief Minister and university leaders will host a series of education agent events and attend a reception hosted by the Australian High Commissioner. The Chief Minister, Tourism Australia and VisitCanberra will also lead a tourism roundtable with key Indian travel agents and partners.
The Delhi leg also includes a tour of the Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters exhibition at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, a joint exhibition with the National Museum of Australia that showcases cooperation between Delhi and Canberra institutions.
In Bangalore, the Chief Minister will meet with government and education sector representatives, address a reception hosted by the Consulate General with key education, aviation and tourism industry agents and engage with school counsellors and principals at a roundtable. He will also participate in the launch of the 2026 University of Canberra/Cricket ACT T10 Cricket Challenge.
The cost of the Chief Minister’s participation is approximately $10,800. This is met from within the existing, Legislative Assembly appropriated, ACT Executive budget. The final cost will be reported as part of the regular quarterly ministerial travel reports.
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Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases