CII Coimbatore’s members met with Tim Thomas, CEO, Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR) on Tuesday, to explore the possibilities of business-collaboation in various domains.

The event provided an opportunity to discuss Australia’s economic vision and ambitions to strengthen bilateral relationships with Tamil Nadu, specifically Coimbatore. David Eggleston, Deputy Consul-General, also participated in the meeting.

On behalf of CII Coimbatore, Ashok Bakthavathsalam, Past Chairman, CII Coimbatore Zone& Managing Director, KGISL, V Noushad, Vice Chairman, CII Coimbatore Zone & Managing Director, Walkaroo International Pvt. Ltd and Dr G Bakthavathsalam, Chairman, KG Group of Institutions participated in the meeting.

During the meeting,  Tim Thomas emphasized the deep-rooted connections between Australia and CII, and expressed Australia's growing interest in deepening bilateral ties, particularly in regions like Coimbatore.He outlined a broad agenda focused on enhancing engagement across economic, civic, cultural and sports domains to bridge gaps and build a mutually beneficial partnership.

Thomas highlighted significant collaboration potential in sectors such as clean energy, agriculture, education, travel, defence, space, medical technology, sports and more. He noted that India and Coimbatore in particular, remain under-invested yet highly promising—especially in areas like edtech, manufacturing and innovation-driven sectors. He emphasized the importance of building cultural confidence and facilitating two-way cooperation.

Ashok Bakthavathasalam, Past Chairman, CII Coimbatore Zone highlighted Coimbatore's strength as a major economic contributor, accounting for approximately 14% of Tamil Nadu’s GSDP. Core industries such as textiles, engineering, auto components, pumps, switchgears and valves were highlighted for meeting a substantial share of national demand. Emerging sectors such as EV components, aerospace and medical devices were also recognized for their rapid growth.

Coimbatore's healthcare ecosystem, known for niche specialties and attracting international patientswas cited as a major asset. The higher education sector, with existing tie-ups with global universities and the strong presence of precision manufacturing and agritech, make Coimbatore ideal for establishing R&D centers that boost innovation and skilled output.

The city’s suitability under the "China +1" strategy was also emphasized, suggesting it as a preferred destination for global companies seeking alternate manufacturing and innovation hubs.

A proposal was made to establish a dedicated Australia–Coimbatore Business Forum under the aegis of CII, and CAIR was invited to facilitate an Australian business delegation’s visit to the region for deeper engagement.

In the healthcare domain, it was noted that tertiary care in Coimbatore is just one-tenth the cost of the U.S., making it an attractive hub for medical tourism. The discussion also touched on developing Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in Coimbatore, which can leverage the city’s high-quality, affordable talent pool and strong R&D infrastructure to operate on par with Tier-1 cities.

Both sides expressed interest in student and faculty exchange programs, especially in engineering and healthcare and in expanding internship opportunities. The potential for partnership in the startup ecosystem was underlined, with a focus on evolving entrepreneurial initiatives in both countries. Coimbatore was also highlighted as one of India’s largest coconut-producing regions, offering significant opportunities in coconut-based industries.

Tim Thomas welcomed the proposals and encouraged identifying specific sectors for focused collaboration under the proposed Australia–Coimbatore Business Forum. 

Overall, these meetings revealed the eagerness of the both the sides to bring new synergy and elevate the strategic significantly benefiting businesses.