PM Modi gets ceremonial welcome, Guard of Honour in Melbourne
Synopsis
PM Modi's Melbourne visit moved beyond diplomacy-as-usual — a Guard of Honour at Government House, a reactivated CEO Forum, and a direct pitch to Australian businesses to join India's growth story across AI, clean energy, and manufacturing. The visit signals a deliberate push to convert strategic goodwill into economic outcomes under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi received a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour at Government House Victoria in Melbourne on 9 July .
Australian PM Anthony Albanese personally welcomed Modi at the ceremony, with the Indian National Anthem played by Australian forces.
Both leaders participated in the India-Australia CEO Forum , first launched in 2012 and relaunched in 2023 .
Modi invited Australian businesses to partner in India's growth across clean energy , AI , manufacturing , and the digital economy .
Modi described the two nations as 'natural and trusted partners' and said the visit would strengthen the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 9 July received a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour at Government House Victoria in Melbourne, marking the formal commencement of his official visit to Australia. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese personally welcomed Modi as the Indian National Anthem played and Australian forces stood in ceremonial formation.
Ceremonial Welcome at Government House
The Guard of Honour ceremony at Government House Victoria underscored the depth of the bilateral relationship between India and Australia. The two leaders posed for photographs before proceeding to formal engagements. Modi arrived in Melbourne from Indonesia, continuing a multi-nation diplomatic tour.
India-Australia CEO Forum
Earlier on Thursday, both leaders participated in the India-Australia CEO Forum in Melbourne, addressing top business figures from both nations. The Forum, first established in 2012 and relaunched jointly by Modi and Albanese in 2023, is designed to strengthen economic ties and advance trade and investment collaboration across key sectors.
At the Economic Roadmap Business Reception held alongside the Forum, Modi described India and Australia as 'natural and trusted partners' amid global uncertainty. He noted that the presence of business leaders from both countries reflected 'shared confidence and aspirations.' Modi urged firms from both nations to deepen collaboration across clean energy, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, digital economy, manufacturing, and education.
Indian Community Reception
The day prior, on Wednesday, Modi received a rousing welcome from the Indian diaspora community in Melbourne — a reception he described as 'truly unforgettable.' The Indian community turnout reflected the significant diaspora presence in Australia and the high regard in which the bilateral relationship is held at a people-to-people level.
Strategic Partnership in Focus
Modi had earlier stated that his visit would add 'vigour' to the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a framework that encompasses defence, trade, education, and critical minerals cooperation. This comes amid growing strategic alignment between the two democracies in the Indo-Pacific region. The visit is expected to produce tangible outcomes on clean energy investment and supply chain diversification — areas where both nations see mutual interest deepening in the context of global realignments.
Point of View
Relaunched with fanfare in 2023, produces binding investment commitments this time. Modi's pitch to Australian businesses on clean energy and AI is well-timed given Australia's critical minerals endowment and India's manufacturing ambitions, but both sides have a history of announcements that stall at implementation. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is maturing, yet trade volumes remain well below the potential of two large, complementary economies. The real test of this visit is whether it moves the needle from strategic alignment to supply-chain integration.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened during PM Modi's visit to Melbourne on 9 July?
PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour at Government House Victoria in Melbourne on 9 July, hosted by Australian PM Anthony Albanese. The two leaders also participated in the India-Australia CEO Forum and addressed business leaders from both countries.
What is the India-Australia CEO Forum?
The India-Australia CEO Forum is a bilateral business platform established in 2012 and relaunched by PM Modi and PM Albanese in 2023. It aims to enhance economic ties and support trade and investment collaboration across sectors including clean energy, AI, and manufacturing.
What did PM Modi say to Australian business leaders?
PM Modi described India and Australia as 'natural and trusted partners' amid global uncertainty and invited Australian businesses to partner in India's growth story. He urged deeper collaboration across clean energy, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, digital economy, manufacturing, and education.
What is the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership?
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is a broad bilateral framework covering defence, trade, education, and critical minerals cooperation between India and Australia. PM Modi said his Melbourne visit would add 'vigour' to this partnership.
How did the Indian community in Melbourne receive PM Modi?
On Wednesday, the day before the formal ceremonies, PM Modi received a rousing welcome from the Indian diaspora community in Melbourne, which he described as 'truly unforgettable.' The turnout highlighted the strong people-to-people ties between the two countries.
