PM Modi Melbourne visit: Australia envoy calls it 'big week' for bilateral ties
Synopsis
Australia's High Commissioner Philip Green set the tone from Melbourne's Yarra River banks — PM Modi's visit isn't just a diplomatic stop, it's a full-spectrum push covering trade, technology, sport, and diaspora. With a free trade agreement already in place and a CEOs Forum on the agenda, both sides are signalling this relationship is moving from goodwill to hard economic outcomes.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi is arriving in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday night (local time) as the second stop of a three-nation tour.
Australia's High Commissioner Philip Green posted a video on X from the Yarra River welcoming the visit, calling it a 'big week of conversations, connections and progress' .
Modi will attend the third India–Australia Annual Summit with PM Anthony Albanese and meet Governor General Sam Mostyn AC .
He will address the India–Australia CEOs Forum and a large Indian diaspora gathering in Melbourne, and visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) .
The visit will focus on emerging and critical technologies , sports science , and deepening the existing free trade agreement .
Modi travels to New Zealand after Australia, completing the three-nation tour.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to arrive in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday night (local time) as part of a three-nation tour, with Australia's High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, describing the visit as a 'big week of conversations, connections and progress' for the Australia–India partnership. The visit comes at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and marks Modi's second stop after Jakarta, Indonesia.
High Commissioner's Welcome
Standing on the banks of the Yarra River in Melbourne, Green posted a short video on X underscoring the economic and cultural weight of the visit. 'Behind me are the steel and glass towers of the Finance and Resource Centres of Australia. I know many people in India are focusing on the major diaspora engagement he will have, but very, very important is that trade and commerce relationship between our countries, already terrific with our first phase free trade agreement, can get even stronger,' Green said in the video.
Green also noted Melbourne's significance as a hub for arts, culture, and sport. 'Melbourne is also the city of culture and we are looking to do more in the field of arts and culture with India. It's also a great sporting city, the home of Cricket Australia and we look forward to doing more with India in the field of sport which has been at the heart of our relationship for so long,' he added.
Key Engagements on the Agenda
During his stay, PM Modi is scheduled to attend the third India–Australia Annual Summit with Prime Minister Albanese. He will also meet Governor General of Australia, Sam Mostyn AC, and participate in the India–Australia CEOs Forum, where he will address top business leaders from both nations.
On Thursday, Modi is expected to address a large gathering of the Indian diaspora in Melbourne and is also scheduled to visit the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Trade, Technology and Sport in Focus
In his departure statement ahead of the trip, PM Modi said the Australia leg would be an opportunity for both nations to deepen ties in emerging and critical technologies, sports, and sports science. The bilateral trade relationship has already been bolstered by the first phase of a free trade agreement between the two countries, and both sides are expected to explore further economic integration during the summit.
This comes amid growing strategic alignment between India and Australia within multilateral frameworks, with both nations sharing interests in a stable Indo-Pacific region. Notably, the diaspora dimension — with a large and economically active Indian community in Melbourne — adds political and cultural resonance to the visit beyond the formal bilateral agenda.
What Comes Next
After Australia, PM Modi will proceed to New Zealand, the third and final stop of his tour. Outcomes from the India–Australia Annual Summit and the CEOs Forum are expected to set the tone for bilateral cooperation in the months ahead, particularly in technology and trade.
Point of View
But the CEOs Forum and technology agenda suggest both sides want to move from framework to deal flow. The diaspora event adds domestic political value for Modi, but the harder deliverable will be whether the summit produces concrete commitments on critical minerals and technology transfer — two areas where Australia has supply and India has demand. That gap, if closed, would make this visit genuinely consequential.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is PM Modi visiting Melbourne?
PM Modi is visiting Melbourne as part of a three-nation tour to attend the third India–Australia Annual Summit with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, address the India–Australia CEOs Forum, and engage with the Indian diaspora. The visit aims to deepen bilateral ties in trade, emerging technologies, and sports.
What will PM Modi do during his Australia visit?
Modi is scheduled to meet Governor General Sam Mostyn AC, attend the India–Australia Annual Summit, address top business leaders at the CEOs Forum, speak to the Indian diaspora in Melbourne, and visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
What did Australia's High Commissioner Philip Green say about the visit?
Philip Green posted a video on X from the banks of the Yarra River in Melbourne, saying the city is 'buzzing' ahead of Modi's arrival. He highlighted the importance of the trade and commerce relationship and called it a 'big week of conversations, connections and progress' for the Australia–India partnership.
What is the trade context of PM Modi's Australia visit?
India and Australia already have a first-phase free trade agreement in place. The visit is expected to explore further economic integration, with both sides looking to strengthen ties in critical technologies, resources, and sport.
Where does PM Modi go after Australia?
After Australia, PM Modi will travel to New Zealand, the third and final stop of his current three-nation tour. He arrived in Melbourne from Jakarta, Indonesia.
