Quick Take
- PM Modi pushed for an early India Australia CECA at the Melbourne CEO Forum on July 9, 2026.
- AustralianSuper committed a fresh AU$500 Mn (Rs 3,312 Cr) to NIIF, lifting its India book to AU$3.3 Bn.
- Bilateral goods and services trade stood at $24.1 Bn (Rs 2,30,381 Cr) in 2025-26, per India’s MEA.
In This Article
The India Australia CECA talks gained fresh energy on July 9, 2026, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged an early close to the deal at the Australia-India CEO Forum in Melbourne. On the same day, pension giant AustralianSuper committed a further AU$500 Mn (Rs 3,312 Cr, about $346 Mn) to India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).
Modi jointly addressed the Forum with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. More than 200 CEOs and business leaders from both countries attended, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Modi called India’s scale and Australia’s expertise a “win-win proposition” and pressed both sides to conclude the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) soon. You can read the MEA’s account on the Ministry of External Affairs website.
StartupFeed Insight
The headline at StartupFeed is not the speech, it is the timing. AustralianSuper’s fresh AU$500 Mn cheque landed the very morning Modi pitched India to Australia’s biggest funds, turning a diplomatic event into a proof point. Watch the pension and sovereign fund corridor closely, because Australia’s super pool now sits near AU$4.4 trillion and needs markets its own economy cannot absorb. India is becoming that outlet. Expect at least one more nine-figure Australian pension or super fund commitment into Indian infrastructure or private markets before December 2026, especially if CECA negotiators signal a concrete signing window. By Avinash.
India Australia CECA: The Melbourne Numbers
The India Australia CECA push was paired with a concrete money commitment on July 9, 2026. The table below sets out the key facts from the Melbourne engagements, drawn from MEA statements and company disclosures.
| Metric | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New AustralianSuper commitment | AU$500 Mn (Rs 3,312 Cr) | Into NIIF, announced by CEO Paul Schroder |
| Total India exposure | AU$3.3 Bn (Rs 21,860 Cr) | Across infrastructure, equities, private markets |
| Earlier NIIF investment | AU$240 Mn (Rs 1,590 Cr) | Committed in 2019 |
| Bilateral trade 2025-26 | $24.1 Bn (Rs 2,30,381 Cr) | Goods and services, per MEA |
| Trade agreement in force | ECTA, since December 2022 | CECA now under negotiation |
| Announcement date | July 9, 2026 | Australia-India CEO Forum, Melbourne |
The most striking fact is the jump from a AU$240 Mn start in 2019 to a AU$3.3 Bn total book. AustralianSuper called its first NIIF stake one of its best-performing infrastructure assets, per Business Today.
About AustralianSuper and NIIF
AustralianSuper, founded in 2006 and based in Melbourne, is Australia’s largest pension fund, managing over AU$410 Bn in assets. It invests members’ retirement savings across shares, bonds, property and infrastructure. NIIF, set up in 2015, is India’s sovereign-anchored fund managed by NIIF Ltd, with the Government of India holding a 49% stake. NIIF manages roughly $4.9 Bn in assets under management (AUM) across its funds.
Why did AustralianSuper back India again?
AustralianSuper backed India again because its first NIIF stake delivered strong returns and India’s policy setting stayed stable. The fund’s Chief Executive Paul Schroder announced the new commitment in Melbourne and praised Modi’s long-term approach.
“I have had the chance to meet with Prime Minister Modi before, and he has always assured me that he understands business and investing. He thinks in the very long term about the prosperity of India and making sure that investors have a stable policy setting,” Paul Schroder, Chief Executive, AustralianSuper.
Chief Investment Officer Shaun Manuell added that policy consistency and India’s expanding middle class drove the decision, per Business Today. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman thanked AustralianSuper for its continued trust in NIIF in a post on X. For NIIF’s own portfolio details, see the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund website.
How big is India Australia trade now?
India Australia trade in goods and services reached $24.1 Bn (Rs 2,30,381 Cr) in 2025-26, per India’s MEA. Australia is India’s 14th-largest trading partner. The two economies are highly complementary, with Australia supplying critical minerals and energy while India offers a large market and skilled talent.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| ECTA in force | December 29, 2022 |
| Australian goods tariff-free into India | About 90% by value, under ECTA |
| Indian goods tariff-free into Australia | 100% under ECTA |
| CECA status | Under active negotiation |
Under ECTA, exports from India to Australia have doubled since 2022, Modi said. What makes CECA different is its wider scope: it aims to deepen services, investment and supply-chain ties well beyond the current goods-focused pact.
What comes after the CEO Forum?
Modi and Albanese are expected to co-chair the 3rd India-Australia Annual Summit during the visit, where trade, defence, clean energy and critical minerals feature on the agenda. The clearest near-term milestone to track is a concrete CECA signing timeline, which negotiators may signal in the coming months. Will the next round of talks finally set a firm date?
Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. StartupFeed and its authors are not SEBI-registered investment advisors. The analysis above is based on publicly available information and should not be the sole basis for any investment decision. Please consult a SEBI-registered financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Written by Avinash. Have a tip? Write to us at editorial@startupfeed.in.
