India and Australia have shared ambition to work together and deploy their complementary capabilities to drive climate action
The India-Australia Renewable Energy Partnership (REP) was officially launched on Tuesday (November 19, 2024) as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met for the 2nd India-Australia Annual Summit on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The two Prime Ministers said the partnership would provide the framework for practical cooperation in priority areas such as solar PV (photovoltaic), green hydrogen, energy storage, two-way investment in renewable energy projects and allied areas; and upgraded skills training for the renewables workforce of the future, according to a joint statement issued after the meeting.

India and Australia have shared ambition to move faster, work together and deploy their complementary capabilities to drive climate action. 

During the Annual Summit, the two Prime Ministers also expressed satisfaction at the increasing two-way trade, business engagements and market access for goods and services enabled under the landmark India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). They welcomed further work towards an ambitious, balanced and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), to realise the full potential of the bilateral economic relationship.

“It’s always wonderful to meet my good friend, PM Albanese. The talks were extremely fruitful and our focus will remain on futuristic sectors which will further global growth and sustainability,” Prime Minister Modi said on social media platform X.

He was replying to a post by the Australian Prime Minister which said, “Our Australia-India renewable energy partnership is officially launched. Great to see India’s Prime Minister @narendramodi today on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil. 

This new partnership will boost two way investment in the renewable energy sectors in things like solar, green hydrogen and the renewables workforce. We are doing so much work together on driving renewable energy transition to meet our net zero targets”.

Growing Collaboration in Defence, Security, and Space
According to the joint statement, the Prime Ministers welcomed sustained progress under the defence and security pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They expressed intent to renew and strengthen the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation in 2025, to reflect ambition in both countries’ elevated defence and security partnership and strategic convergence. 

“The Prime Ministers looked forward to a long-term vision of defence and security collaboration between the two countries to enhance collective strength, contribute to both countries’ security and make an important contribution to regional peace and security,” the joint statement said.

On the growing space partnership, the two Prime Ministers said the cooperation to support the Gaganyaan missions, the planned launch of Australian satellites on-board an Indian launch vehicle in 2026 and joint projects between the Indian and Australian space industries exemplify this deepening collaboration.

Regional and Multilateral Cooperation
The joint statement said the Prime Ministers reiterated their commitment to supporting an open, inclusive, stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific where sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected. They underlined the importance of being able to exercise rights and freedoms in all seas and oceans consistent with international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including freedom of navigation and overflight.

They also reiterated their commitment to strengthening cooperation through the Quad as a force for global good which delivers real, positive and enduring impact for the Indo-Pacific, to advance their shared vision for a region that is free, open, inclusive and resilient. 

During their talks, Prime Minister Modi and PM Albanese reaffirmed their commitment to ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN-led regional architecture including the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus. They expressed ongoing support for the practical implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), the joint statement said.