India marked the third anniversary of the India Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement with strong evidence of sustained gains in exports, market access, and supply chain resilience, reinforcing the growing economic partnership between the two countries.
Over the past three years, the agreement has translated policy intent into tangible outcomes for Indian exporters, micro small and medium enterprises, farmers, and workers. India’s exports to Australia grew by 8 percent in the financial year 2024 25, contributing to an improvement in India’s trade balance and reflecting steady momentum under the trade pact.
Significant export growth has been recorded across a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, chemicals, textiles, plastics, pharmaceuticals, petroleum products, and gems and jewellery. Labour intensive industries and value added manufacturing segments have particularly benefited from enhanced market access and tariff liberalisation under the agreement.
Agricultural exports registered broad based expansion, with notable increases in shipments of fruits and vegetables, marine products, spices, and exceptional growth in coffee exports. These gains have strengthened income opportunities for farmers and agri exporters while diversifying India’s export basket to Australia.
The gems and jewellery sector emerged as a strong performer, with exports rising by 16 percent during the period from April to November 2025. This growth highlights the agreement’s role in supporting high value exports and employment intensive industries.
A major institutional milestone under the agreement was the signing of a Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Organic Products. The arrangement enables seamless bilateral trade in organic produce by lowering compliance costs and reducing regulatory duplication, providing a boost to exporters in the organic and natural products segment.
Looking ahead, a significant expansion of market access is set to take effect from 1 January 2026, when 100 percent of Australian tariff lines will become zero duty for Indian exports. This development is expected to unlock fresh opportunities, particularly for labour intensive sectors, and further strengthen India’s export competitiveness in the Australian market.
As negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement progress, the India Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement continues to anchor India’s economic engagement in the Indo Pacific region. The agreement aligns with national initiatives such as Make in India and the long term vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, positioning the partnership as a pillar of trusted trade, resilient supply chains, and shared prosperity.
