Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday, 9 July jointly participated in the India-Australia CEO Forum in Melbourne, meeting top business leaders from both nations to advance trade and investment ties under the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

What Happened at the CEO Forum

Both leaders were received by a gathering of senior executives from India and Australia. Albanese formally welcomed Modi, and the two posed for a photograph before engaging with the assembled business community. The Forum, which has been active since 2012 and was relaunched jointly by Modi and Albanese in 2023, convenes annually to advise heads of government on ways to deepen economic prosperity for both nations.

The Forum is expected to support the implementation of Australia-India collaboration in trade and investment across multiple sectors, providing a structured channel between government and industry throughout the year.

Summit, Bilateral Talks and Other Engagements

Modi is scheduled to co-chair the 3rd Annual India-Australia Summit alongside Albanese. Beyond the summit, he will hold bilateral discussions with the Australian Prime Minister and call on Governor-General Sam Mostyn. He is also set to address a large gathering of the Indian diaspora in Melbourne.

A Rousing Welcome from the Indian Community

Modi arrived in Melbourne from Indonesia on Wednesday evening, local time, to a warm reception from the Indian community outside his hotel, with crowds braving cold weather and chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Modi, Modi'. Cultural performances, including a Kathak recital and a fusion piece blending Australia's ancient Didgeridoo with India's Tabla, were staged in his honour.

'The weather in Melbourne may be cold but the warmth of the welcome from the Indian community was truly unforgettable. Their affection and unwavering bond with India continue to be a source of immense joy and pride,' Modi wrote on X.

He also highlighted the Australian-India Orchestra's rendition of 'Maa Tujhe Salaam', noting its significance in the year marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. He complimented Mr. Ron Murray and Dr. Sam Evans for their role in preserving musical traditions through the Didgeridoo-Tabla performance.

Broader Visit Context

Australia is the second leg of Modi's three-nation tour. He is expected to travel to New Zealand next, where he will hold discussions with the country's leadership focused on strengthening bilateral ties. Upon landing in Melbourne, Modi said the visit would 'add vigour to the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' and underlined the Indian diaspora as 'an important pillar of our partnership.'

With the CEO Forum, a bilateral summit, and diaspora outreach all packed into this leg of the trip, Modi's Melbourne visit represents one of the most substantive Australia engagements in recent years — and a signal of how central the bilateral relationship has become to India's Indo-Pacific strategy.