The Tech Council of Australia and India's peak technology body NASSCOM signed a landmark agreement at the National Tech Summit in Sydney.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two countries aims to deepen mutual cooperation and create new opportunities in technology, digital trade, business relationships, startups and innovation.

It provides a new, stronger platform for the growing Australia-India corridor and an opportunity for Australia tech businesses and startups, especialy those founded in Australia by Indian and South Asian entrepreneurs and those in India with eyes on the Australian market, to find new growth. 

The agreement also builds on existing success stories. Indian firms such as Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Wipro, and HCL have long played a role in digital transformation across Australia, while Australian companies including Atlassian, Canva, and ResMed have deepened their presence in India. These reciprocal investments show the promise of a shared tech ecosystem, where talent and disruptive impactful ideas can flow in both directions.

Deepening The Australia-India Relationship

The Tech Council of Australia (TCA) and NASSCOM MOU is closely aligned with the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA-FTA) and the upcoming Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). Both agreements aim to build a dynamic, innovation-driven "express lane" of tech trade between India and Australia. 

The milestone partnership is supported by the Australian and the Indian Governments, as a way to drive business-to-business engagement, policy dialogue, market access, and ease of doing business, with an aim of significantly expanding digital trade between the two nations.

“Australia and India have a long history of collaboration on technology and innovation. This MoU deepens our partnerships across this important sector,” said Dr. Andrew Charlton, MP, Australia's Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy. 

Damian Kassabgi, CEO of the TCA, spoke about the Indian hustle he experienced when he helped launch Uber in India. He highlighted the market opportunities and knowledge exchange, especially for startups. 

“This MOU unlocks potential for startups to global enterprises to share expertise and build enduring commercial partnerships,” he said. 

Dr S. Janakiraman, the Consul General of India in Sydney, stressed the complementarity of both nations’ strengths.

“With India’s digital talent and innovation, and Australia’s research strengths and niche capabilities, we have a unique opportunity to co-create inclusive, globally impactful solutions,” he said to the crowd. 

Rajesh Nambiar, President of NASSCOM, made it clear this agreement is designed to be operational, not ceremonial, saying the agreement "underscores the shared commitment to a thriving digital economy.” 

NASSCOM's Vice President  and Head of Global Trade Development Shivendra Singh was present in Sydney and spoke of the tremendous market and trade potential. 

"We wanted to create an institutional framework for structured bilateral engagement. This partnership can help double our trade targets—from $50 billion to $100 billion—and provide the platform for startups, SMEs and GCCs to expand across borders,” said Shivendra Singh.

“The barriers to entry have never been lower… With AI and digital technologies, SMEs can scale globally with fewer resources. To Indian founders in Australia: this is the best time to build that bridge back to India,” he added. 

The agreement was also suppoted by AusTrade, who assists with business expansion and market intelligence across borders.

Mary Overington, Austrade’s Trade and Investment Commissioner (South Asia), spoke at the launch and distilled the formula that allows for the best mutual collaboration. 

“Trust, technology and talent are the three pillars. Today’s MOU positions us to pursue opportunities in AI, fintech, medtech, cyber, agri-tech and sports-tech—combining Australia’s niche innovation with India’s scale and hustle.”

A Startup Founder-led Future

For South Asian Australian founders, the India-Australia tech corridor is practically purpose-built. On the India side, the strength of digital public infrastructure  have created a massive test-and-scale market. India's United Payments Interface alone crossed 20 billion monthly transactions in August 2025, illustrating the software rails available for fintech, e-commerce and mobility to plug into. 

On the Australia side, the policy aim is crystal clear: a larger, higher-skilled tech workforce by 2030, with migration settings tuned to critical tech skills.  Founders who design in Australia—leveraging proximity to universities, customers and regulators—and build or scale in India—leveraging talent density, DPI rails and GCC-grade capability—will sit in the slipstream of both countries’ strategies.

The diaspora context matters, too. Australia's Indian disaspora has been described as a 'national asset.'

India-born Australians are one of the fastest-growing and best educated communities, with strong technical and language skills, and research showing they are more likely than other groups to start a business.

With over a million India-origin residents building a two-way bridge between countries, including companies from Australia offices in India, tech and entrepreneurship are at the forefront of market expasion and national cultural collaboration. 

From Handshakes To Beyond Namaste

This agreement is an important one for startup founders to understad. But what should startup founders expect next?

⮕ B2B deal flow and market discovery. Founder can expect practical showcases, delegations and compendia of case studies that hopefully shorten the distance between a pitch deck and a pilot in India. 

 ⮕ Easier entry points for SMEs and startups. As AI reduces the human-scale dependency for product teams, early-stage companies can do more with less—and cross borders earlier.

⮕ Policy inputs with a founder’s lens. The forum resulting from this new MOu is set up as a “track 1.5” partner to government, one that is industry led and government-aligned, iaming to continually fine-tune the corridor to create greater ease in doing business.

⮕ A Glocal Capability Centre-driven platform for talent and reseach and development. With 1,700+ GCCs in India and counting, founders tapping those ecosystems can hit Indian cities across all tiers —whether for co-development, proofs of concept or go-to-market— and can move faster with less friction. 

Brighter, Bigger Horizons

"Technology covers every sector, and this is where we're really going to step forward in our partnerships," said Dipen Raghani of the Newland Global Group, whose case study compendium helped underpin the partnership."

"Australia is a test case, and now, even better than before, Indian founders in Australia can access opportunities, talent and support."

"I'd encourage founders to keep going, to work hard, to take advantage of this new level of support, and remember: the world's your oyster." 

Damian Kassabgi, CEO of the Tech Council of Australia, spotlighted the size of the prize—and how deeply Australian tech is already embedded in India. 

“The Indian tech sector is projected to reach $400–$500 billion in the next five years."

"That’s not just a trade opportunity for Australia—it’s a talent opportunity."

"Companies like Atlassian, Canva, WiseTech and ResMed are already building deep roots in India.”

He encouraged all startup founders, especially those with roots and ties to India to step into their place as leaders to grow their technology businesses across continents. 

Sandeep Varma is the Founder and CEO of SAARI Collective. 

SAARI Collective is building the biggest and best list of the top 101 South Asian Australian Startup Founders. You can submit your nomination to join the list here.