Australia has announced the appointment of Indian-origin Harinder Sidhu as its next High Commissioner to India.
Sidhu had migrated to Australia as a child with her family from Singapore. She will replace the outgoing High Commissioner Patrick Suckling.
She has previously served overseas in Moscow and Damascus.
Australian foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop said.”India is one of Australia’s closest and most significant partners in the Indo-Pacific region. It is our 10th largest trading partner and our two-way investment is worth over USD 20 billion.”
According to PTI News, Julie stressed that Australia would continue to push for the conclusion of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with India, designed to take “our economic relationship to a new level.”
“Sidhu will also have non-resident accreditation to Bhutan. Australia and Bhutan enjoy a warm relationship, built on strong people-to-people links and growing cooperation on international education,” Julie said.
Sidhu holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Economics degrees from the University of Sydney.