Consul-General of Australia in Kolkata, Bernard Lynch, paid a courtesy call on Assam Governor Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Lok Bhavan in Guwahati on Sunday.
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between Assam and Australia across a range of sectors including education, skill development, water management, tourism, renewable energy and critical minerals.
Welcoming the Australian envoy, Governor Acharya said his visit to Assam would further deepen the strong and growing relationship between India and Australia, which is anchored in a comprehensive strategic partnership founded on shared mutual trust and common interests.
The Governor highlighted Assam’s strategic importance under India’s Act East Policy and its role as a gateway to the North Eastern Region and South-East Asia.
He noted that with rapid advancements in infrastructure, connectivity and ease of doing business, Assam is emerging as an attractive destination for investment, trade and international partnerships.
Inviting greater Australian engagement with Assam, Acharya highlighted the vast opportunities available in sectors such as tea, agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, tourism, skill development and critical minerals in the state.
He said that collaboration in these areas could generate significant economic and developmental benefits for both sides.
Emphasising the importance of human resource development, the Governor called for enhanced academic and institutional partnerships between Assam and Australia through student exchanges, collaborative research initiatives and vocational training programmes.
He observed that such cooperation would equip young people with globally relevant skills and knowledge.
The Governor also highlighted Assam’s rich natural heritage, unique biodiversity and vibrant cultural traditions. He encouraged greater tourism exchanges and invited Australian visitors to explore the state’s renowned destinations, including Kaziranga National Park, Majuli, the Charaideo Moidams, and the tea gardens spreading across the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys.
During the discussion, Lynch appreciated Assam’s development initiatives and informed the Governor that an Australian consulate-funded project was underway in Majuli island. The project is delivered jointly by the University of Melbourne and IIT Guwahati, which focuses on bio-engineering solutions for controlling riverbank erosion through Smart Villages for Climate Resilience.
