India’s exports to Australia have surged around 200 per cent over the past five years, significantly outpacing India’s exports to the rest of the world during the period, Australian diplomat Christian Jack said on Thursday, attributing the sharp expansion to the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).The two countries are now looking to build on the gains from ECTA through a broader Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) covering areas including services, the digital economy and movement of people.“India’s exports to the rest of the world have grown by more than 40 per cent in the last five years, while in the same period, India’s exports to Australia have grown by 200 per cent. Because of ECTA, the growth in our trade relationship has increased significantly relative to growth in India’s trade relationships with the rest of its trading partners. Our two-way trading relationship is now past AUD 50 billion which is around ₹3 lakh crore and our ministers have committed to increase it to AUD 100 billion by this decade-end. We are looking at ECTA to be the engine of that growth, Jack, Deputy Consul General at the Australian Consulate-General in Mumbai, said while addressing the 3rd edition of the CII Gujarat Export Conclave 2026 in Ahmedabad.“The bilateral relationship is leading to a stage of delivery,” Jack said, adding that ECTA, which came into force in December 2022, had been instrumental in accelerating bilateral trade. From January 1, 2026, Indian exports entering Australia under ECTA are subject to zero tariffs, he said. The agreement’s utilisation rate is also “significantly high” at around 86 per cent, according to Jack, who said this was higher than the utilisation seen under India’s other trade agreements and, in some cases, more than double.Focus areasThe growth has been visible across several sectors. India’s automotive exports to Australia have doubled, while agricultural exports have increased by around 20 per cent, Jack said. However, Australia is now seeking to build on ECTA through a broader CECA. While ECTA had a strong focus on goods trade, the proposed CECA would expand co-operation into services, the digital economy and movement of people, among other areas.“There have been a range of different rounds of negotiations on this agreement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was very keen to get this across the line when he was in Australia recently. He has given very clear instructions to the Indian side to finalise this deal, as we have received very clear instructions from our side,” Jack said.Broad driversHe attributed the strengthening India-Australia relationship to four broad drivers — strategic alignment, economic complementarity, the growing Indian diaspora in Australia and tourism. The diplomat also highlighted an emerging sports and infrastructure partnership between Australia and Gujarat.Australian architecture firm Cox Architecture is working on the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave at Motera in Ahmedabad, which Jack said is expected to be a centre for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The firm is also involved in the Brisbane stadium that will host the 2032 Olympic Games.Sports ecosystemAustralia and Gujarat are also planning a high-level sporting delegation to Australia in the first half of 2027, Jack said. The delegation is expected to bring together the broader sports ecosystem and examine Australia’s experience in sports infrastructure and management in Brisbane, with the aim of bringing that expertise back to Ahmedabad.“We are planning a very high-level sporting delegation to Australia in the first half of next year. It will bring across the entire ecosystem to look at what we are doing in sports in Brisbane and to bring that skill and experience back to Ahmedabad to turbocharge what is happening here,” he said.Jack said the economic relationship was increasingly moving from agreements and intent towards implementation. “We are not resting on our laurels. We are certainly looking to further the areas of liberalisation and trade opportunities,” he said.Published on August 20, 2026