The former ACT Australia India Business Council president and Labor MLA says the opportunity to become the national chair of the Australian India Business Council (AIBC) couldn’t have come at a better time.

“I’ve been involved with the Australian Business Council for almost 20 years and initially started the ACT chapter of the AIBC in 2006,” he says.

“During that time, the momentum of India was picking up, especially nationwide.”

Deepak has played no small role in Canberra as the first Indian-born MLA in the ACT Legislative Assembly before losing his Yerrabi seat in 2020.

In his new role, he’s eager to encourage further trade between the two countries.

“This is a very important position and comes with a lot of responsibilities,” he says.

“We see what is the best way to push and facilitate trade between Australia and India.”

According to Deepak, bilateral trade has seen a huge improvement, something he thinks will continue to rise.

“India will soon be the major market for Australian companies,” he says.

“I’ll be looking into it seriously to promote it, because I think there’s a potential and we can make best use of it, especially considering the powerhouse in Canberra.”

With major income from international students and tourism from India, Deepak says Canberra has already begun to be exposed to the Indian market through food and music, but thinks this can be broadened to include innovation, investment and tourism.

“I don’t want us to be cemented as a song-and-dance community, I think there’s more to it,” he says.

“We’ve had our ‘romance’, but it’s time to put the ring to the finger.”

Deepak says there’s a good relation from “people to people”, but he would like to see further communications between “government to government and business to business.”

Passionate about investment, he says Australia could benefit from Indian companies improving scientific innovation and technology,

“Australia has expertise and India has resources,” says Deepak.

“There’s lots that can be done in clean energy, waste management and infrastructure logistics.”

According to Deepak, these are issues that India is currently facing and he says it’s an opportunity for Australian companies to provide their expertise and get some business.

“I really want to see some success stories,” he says.

“The ACT government has been regularly visiting India and taking part in some big events and I would like to bring back some of those symposiums to Canberra, be that on tourism or big company investment.

Deepak says he is also keen to look into the healthcare and aged-care sectors.

“We’ve seen a severe shortage of resources there and we know there’s a lot of skilled migration, especially in the field of medicine,” he says.

“India has those resources and I think [Australia] will benefit if we come to any kind of arrangement to have registered nurses come alongside qualified skilled aged-care workers.”

According to Deepak, 20 to 30 per cent of doctors and nurses within Canberra hospitals are of Indian background and qualification, something he claims has been very successful.

“I think that’s one area a city can leverage any kind of collaboration with the Indian market, especially in the health and aged-care sectors as well as pharmaceuticals,” he says.

Deepak says his previous experience in politics has been a boon to his new position.

“Having my knowledge and exposure in both India and the Australian government will benefit AIBC.”

Forming strong connections with local businesses and associations in Canberra, Deepak says he now hears of strong inquiries coming to the Canberra Business Chamber regarding doing business with India.

“Being in the capital city has given us access to the federal government and the High Commission of India,” he says.

“It’s a great place to capitalise on such an opportunity, especially as a local.”