Australia has decided to fund a new Consulate-General in Kolkata and extend the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF).

“These announcements cement Australia’s commitment to India as a first-tier partnership,” Australia’s High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu said in a statement.

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The opening of the Consulate-General in Kolkata will take the total number of Australia’s diplomatic posts in India to four, in addition to the High Commission in New Delhi and Consulates-General in Mumbai and Chennai.

“The Consulate-General in Kolkata will strengthen bilateral trade and investment, particularly in the mining and resources sectors. We look forward to strengthening our engagement with West Bengal and surrounding states,” she said.

The Australian Government has also committed to continuing the successful AISRF, under new measures providing $20 million over the next four years to enhance Australian innovation in Asia under the existing Global Innovation Strategy of the National Innovation and Science Agenda.

“India has, and continues to be, an important partner to Australia in innovation and science. The AISRF is Australia’s largest fund dedicated to bilateral research and is at the cornerstone of our scientific partnership,” Sidhu said.

These announcements have come at a time when Australia is deepening its relationship with India and are consistent with commitments outlined in the Foreign Policy White Paper