Strategic Cooperation and Partnerships Between Australia and South Asia

Due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, Australia and South Asian Countries have experienced significant disruption in international trade, investment, travel for business and higher education, tourism, and supply chains. It is important to reflect and address some of the key issues and challenges faced by Australia in this sector and analyze potential recovery strategies for the future. Inevitably, in the coming decade, Australia will need to pursue its interests in a more competitive and contested world. This pandemic has witnessed an intensified trade war of Australia with its strongest bilateral trade partner China, threatening an increasing number of industries in Australia such as agribusiness, forestry, and mining. A nearsighted solution to this problem does not seem feasible, given the recent diplomatic fallout between the two nations. Australia thereby needs an alternative strategic bilateral coalition to combat this situation and progress towards a sustainable economic goal.

Based on the above scenario, the core objective of this book is to suggest and explore that South-Asian nations could be the prominent focal point for Australia to move forward, as it is a large market with population nearing two billion. This book will provide an overview of the Australian trade and investment relationship with South Asian Countries, identify trends and developments of the bilateral trade relationship of Australia with South Asian countries (in strategic areas of trade, travel, investment, and education), and will shed light on the future opportunities for development and partnerships for economic growth, trade in goods and services and tourism between Australia and South Asia. It will also display how Australia can play a leading role amongst the SAARC countries (Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) to cooperate for their individual national economic development and growth objectives and be best prepared to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the future.