“The CECA has the potential to deliver the strong leadership framework to expand trade in education services”

The agreement, which is expected to be finalised at the end of the year, is being seen as an opportunity for both nations to prosper under aligned economic and trade interests.

Speaking from the Australia-India CEOs Forum in New Delhi, Robinson praised the CECA for placing an emphasis on education and other service sectors.

“The CECA has the potential to deliver the strong leadership framework to expand trade in education services enabling Australian universities to contribute to India’s great challenge of skilling up its population,” she said.

Two-way trade in goods and services between the countries has grown in value from AUS$6.8bn in 2004 to $14.8bn last year. Australian Trade Minister, Andrew Robb, said that finalising this agreement is Australia’s “number one” priority.

Robinson added that an acknowledgement from both sides emerged from forum discussions that “the time is right for us to come together to take the next step in driving an even a stronger economic relationship which includes education services”.

The Australian and Indian governments have welcomed work towards mutual recognition of qualifications, as well as encouraging the mobility of skilled labour between the two countries.

Programmes are already in place to support mutual student mobility.

India joined Australia’s outbound programme, The New Colombo Plan, last year, and in 2013-2014, India was the second highest source country for international students with 30,000 Indians students receiving visas.

There are also more than 300 agreements between Australian and Indian universities to facilitate research collaboration as well as student and academic exchanges.