Governor of Victoria, Prof. Margaret Gardner, stated that a majority of Indian students who pursue higher education in Australia choose to study in the state of Victoria. She also mentioned that Australian universities plan to establish their campuses in India. Governor Prof. Margaret Gardner and representatives from the state of Victoria met with Governor Ramesh Bais at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. She stated that there is a significant population of Indians in the state of Victoria, who are contributing greatly to the civic, cultural, and industrial sectors. She mentioned that Melbourne has a cultural organization of the people from Maharashtra and suggested that a direct flight from Mumbai to Melbourne would further enhance the relationship between Maharashtra and the state of Victoria.
Prof. Gardner said to the Governor that cricket is not just a sport, but also a profitable industry in India and Australia. She also notified him that the largest Indian film festival was organized in Melbourne. She mentioned that while Australian students previously participated in exchange programs with England and the USA, many students now come to India to study at institutions such as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and the IITs.
Greeting the Governor of Victoria's visit to Maharashtra to promote economic, educational, and cultural cooperation between the two regions, Governor Bais advised her to increase collaboration with universities in Maharashtra. As the chancellor of 26 universities in the state, Governor Bais highlighted that Maharashtra is a significant educational hub in India. The governor stated that India has set a target to achieve a Gross Enrollment Ratio of 50 percent by 2035. To achieve this goal, he requested assistance in skill development training for the young population of India. The governor expressed confidence that the direct flight between Mumbai and Melbourne will enhance trade, mutual relations, and tourism between the two nations.
