Diaspora (Commonwealth Union) _ Hilary McGeachy, Australia’s first Consul General to Karnataka and Telangana, is based in Bengaluru. She is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, most recently serving as Director of the CPTPP Section. McGeachy has previously served in India and Germany and holds a Bachelor of Arts/Law from The Australian National University and a Master of International Affairs from King’s College London. The new Consulate-General in Bengaluru is Australia’s fifth diplomatic mission in India, alongside New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai, reflecting the depth and expansion of Australia-India ties. The Consulate-General aims to deepen Australia’s connections with India’s innovation and technology ecosystem, as well as significant biotech, aerospace, and defense industries, the national space agency, and leading education and research institutions in Karnataka and Telangana.
During a recent visit to Mangalore, McGeachy, along with Vice Consul Harriet White, discussed her mission and first impressions of coastal Karnataka with MANGALORE TODAY. She emphasized her role in engaging with not only major metros but also Tier-2 cities like Mangalore, establishing ties with local industry, educational institutions, and administrative centers. McGeachy expressed her positive impression of Mangalore, noting its vibrant mix of traditional and new-age industries, as well as its welcoming and friendly people.
Discussing the evolving relationship between India and Australia, McGeachy highlighted the significant Indian community in Australia, which contributes greatly to the economy and culture. The implementation of the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) is creating new business opportunities. McGeachy noted India’s advancements in science and technology, particularly in space, biotech, and IT, from which Australia can benefit. She also mentioned that Australia remains a major supplier of raw materials to India, with mutual trade valued at $48 billion (AUD) in 2022.
Addressing tourism, McGeachy pointed out Australia’s successful tourism industry and its potential to help Mangalore. She learned that Mangalore is a destination for cruise ships and hopes for increased Australian visitors. In education, McGeachy emphasized the high quality of Australian universities and the benefits for Indian students, noting over 120,000 Indian students currently in Australia. She aims to enhance educational collaborations, citing Deakin University’s new campus in India and the Manipal Group’s ties with 21 Australian universities.
On raw materials, McGeachy discussed the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) benefits, with 96% of Indian goods entering Australia tariff-free, rising to 100% by 2026. She mentioned Australia’s significant reserves of critical minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, essential for India’s renewables manufacturing. A Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) is under negotiation to improve supply chains for these minerals.
Improving connectivity between South India and Australia, McGeachy mentioned the successful new Sydney-Bengaluru flight and hopes for more direct routes from other southern Indian locations. Such initiatives are expected to boost business and cultural ties. She also noted that the tourist visa application process is now online. For cricket fans, McGeachy highlighted the possibility of flying directly to Sydney to see the Sydney Cricket Ground match of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar series.
