New South Wales and Maharashtra have renewed a decade-old sister-state partnership, giving Indian Australians a fresh reason to watch the growing relationship between Sydney and Mumbai.
The agreement was signed in Mumbai on 3 September by NSW Premier Chris Minns and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during a four-day NSW trade mission to India. It sets out priority areas for cooperation including technology, clean energy, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, education and skills.
For the Indian community in Australia—particularly people with family, professional or business links to Maharashtra—the announcement is more than diplomatic symbolism. It creates a formal framework through which governments, businesses, universities and research organisations can pursue practical projects. However, it is not a grant program, visa change or guarantee of jobs, and specific opportunities will depend on follow-up programs and agreements.
What the renewed NSW–Maharashtra agreement covers
According to the NSW Government, the renewed memorandum of understanding will support collaboration in:
- clean energy and the energy transition;
- advanced manufacturing;
- technology and innovation;
- critical minerals and mining expertise;
- education, vocational training and skills; and
- research and institutional partnerships.
The two states have worked together for more than a decade through vocational education, water-management projects, cultural exchanges and business engagement. The latest agreement is intended to broaden that work and align it with industries expected to generate the next wave of skilled employment and investment.
Maharashtra is India’s second-most populous state and one of its major business and finance centres. NSW, meanwhile, has identified India as a priority market under its Trade and Investment Strategy 2035.
Why the relationship matters to Indian Australians
People-to-people connections are central to the partnership. More than 200,000 Indian-born residents call NSW home, according to figures cited by the NSW Government. Many have family, language and commercial networks spanning both countries.
Those connections can help businesses understand local markets, identify trusted partners and navigate cultural differences. Indian-Australian professionals may also be well placed to contribute expertise in fields such as software, engineering, renewable energy, higher education, mining services and advanced manufacturing.
The scale of the existing relationship is significant. NSW and India recorded $6.87 billion in goods trade in 2024–25. More than 28,000 Indian students studied in NSW in 2025, while 174,000 Indian visitors travelled to the state in the year to March 2026, spending about $600 million.
These figures do not mean every community member will see an immediate benefit. They do show why governments are investing more attention in the relationship and why diaspora knowledge is increasingly relevant to trade and education planning.
Education links are expanding too
The mission also highlighted Western Sydney University’s planned Greater Noida campus in Uttar Pradesh, which is expected to welcome its first students in 2027. The university announced scholarships in areas including women’s advancement, business, data, innovation and sustainability, alongside a new centre focused on water security, digital innovation and community resilience.
Subject to regulatory approval, it also plans to offer a Master’s program in Sustainable Water Management from 2027.
Although these initiatives are separate from the Maharashtra agreement, together they point to a wider shift: Australia–India education links are increasingly involving two-way research, offshore campuses and institutional partnerships, rather than relying only on Indian students travelling to Australia.
For prospective students and families, the practical advice is to check course accreditation, scholarship conditions, fees and post-study outcomes directly with the institution. An Australian university’s offshore course does not automatically provide an Australian visa or a pathway to permanent residency.
What businesses and professionals should do next
The memorandum creates a framework, but the most useful details will come through future tenders, delegations, investment programs and university partnerships. Interested Indian-Australian businesses and professionals can prepare by:
- monitoring Investment NSW and NSW Government announcements;
- following relevant Maharashtra government and industry updates;
- contacting industry associations in technology, clean energy, mining services or manufacturing;
- speaking with university international-engagement teams about research partnerships; and
- independently checking eligibility before committing money to any program or intermediary.
Businesses should be cautious of anyone claiming the agreement provides guaranteed government contracts, funding or migration outcomes. Verify opportunities through official government or university channels and obtain professional legal, tax or migration advice where appropriate.
A platform, not an instant outcome
The renewed NSW–Maharashtra partnership is a positive signal for one of Australia’s largest Indian communities. Its real value will be measured by the projects, investment and skills exchanges that follow.
For Indian Australians, the key takeaway is to view the agreement as a platform for future opportunities—not an immediate entitlement. Community organisations, entrepreneurs, researchers and students should watch for concrete programs while using official sources to separate genuine openings from promotional claims.
Sources: NSW Government — NSW and Maharashtra renew sister-state partnership; NSW Government — India trade mission begins with new education and economic links; ABC News — NSW Premier’s India visit