In its ninth edition, the Australia-India Youth Dialogue (AIYD) seeks to propel the vehicle of cultural diplomatic exchange between the young leaders of both countries. This year, between February 20 and 23, Melbourne and Sydney are playing host to 30 young delegates from India and Australia through whom it is believed that the bilateral relationship between both countries can be taken forward.
Speaking with SBS Punjabi, Karan Anand, Chair of AIYD said the primary objective of this year’s dialogue is to “activate the ‘youth multiplier’ against the backdrop of the Peter Varghese Report of 2018.” Mr Varghese was the former Australian High commissioner to India and also Secretary Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Titled The India Economic strategy to 2035, in this seminal report on the bilateral relationship between Australia and India, Mr Varghese has laid out the plan for transforming the economic partnership with India by 20135. The route suggested is by strategising the resilience of the Australian economy and helping India realise its aspirations.
AIYD has an impressive line-up of the young delegates this year. From the Australian side, amongst other delegates, is Amit Singh, currently the Head of Global Policy at Uber, San Francisco. Before this, he has also served as Senior Economic adviser to former Australian PMs Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. He was also Deputy Chief of Staff and Head of Policy to Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten.
Also from Australia is an 18-year-old recent high school graduate, Taj Parbari. He is the founder of Fiftysix Creations, Australasia’s largest youth entrepreneurship provider, which he set up at the tender age of 14. He was also named the Young Australian of the Year for Queensland in 2017.
From the Indian delegation, Ricky Kej, a Grammy Award winning musician and professor makes for an impressive delegate, as is Rajat Sethi, a Harvard graduate, is the political adviser to the Chief Minister of Manipur.
Mr Anand further said that the aim of AIYD is to explore how young leaders from both countries can take charge of taking the India-Australia relationship further in the light of the Peter Varghese report.
Anyone from India or Australia between the age group of 18 to 39 can apply for being considered for the annual AIYD.
