[ferro-alloys.com] Australia is the third largest revenue source for Indian IT companies, most of which are headquartered in Bangalore and its mining companies are seeking licences to extract iron ore and gold in Karnataka.

Disclosing this to Deccan Herald here recently, Mr Patrick Suckling Australian High Commissioner to India observed that Karnataka with which his country has a long-standing relationship was an important state for his government.

Mr Suckling said that not just the federal government but several state governments of Australia were interested in forging closer ties with the southern state. Besides the Australian trade and investment office, Bangalore has Queensland as well as Victorian state representative offices which show the level of our interest in Karnataka.

Mr Suckling, who visited Infosys and Wipro offices and met Biocon CMD Mr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw noted that with more than 6,000 employees, Karnataka accounted for the largest number of Australians working in any Indian state. The 6,000 Aussies are working at Bangalore’s Australia and New Zealand Banking Group.

He pointed out that while Infosys has four offices in Australia employing 2,500 people, Wipro has Global IT Services Centre in Sydney and an office in Melbourne, staffing 1,000 people. Several other Bangalore headquartered IT companies have also set up shop in Australia.

He pointed out that NLS Consolidated, Kolar Gold and Australian and Indian Resources are seeking mining licences to extract iron ore and gold in the State. Of the nearly a lakh visitor visas granted to Indians every year, Karnataka accounts for six per cent and applicants from the State have a 93% approval rate.