Tourism, international education, business and investment opportunities are on the agenda this week as Premier Daniel Andrews makes his first official visit to India.

Mr Andrews will visit Delhi and Bengaluru during his three-day tour of one of Victoria’s most valued trade partners and tourist markets.

India is home to the third largest and fastest growing economy in the world, and boasts a population of more than 1.3 billion people and 400 million millennials.

Mr Andrews will use his visit to sell Victoria’s strengths as a world-class destination for international education and tourism, and as a welcoming and innovative business and trade partner.

He will launch Victoria’s India Strategy: Our Shared Future, which sets a blueprint for doubling the value of Victoria’s trade ties with India to almost $1 billion over the next decade.

Mr Andrews will also host a panel event at the Raisina Dialogue – India’s flagship annual conference on geo-politics and geo-economics – with other state and world leaders, and will meet with a range of Indian Government representatives.

India is Victoria’s fifth most lucrative offshore tourist market. In the 12 months ending September 2017, more than 135,000 people from India visited Victoria, staying a combined five million nights and spending $373 million at Victorian businesses.

There are more than 38,500 students from India enrolled at Victoria’s universities and leading education providers. In total, the international education sector contributes more than $5 billion to the state’s economy and provides jobs for 30,000 Victorians.

Our two nations share a mutual love of cricket and have a fierce rivalry on the pitch. Mr Andrews will announce a new initiative aimed at celebrating India’s contribution at Victoria’s annual Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Victoria is home to thriving Hindu and Sikh communities, and Mr Andrews will honour their rich cultures by visiting the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Sikh Temple in Delhi and the Halasuru Someshwara Hindu Temple in Bengaluru.

With more than 209,000 Victorians of Indian ancestry, Victoria boasts the highest Indian population in Australia.

Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“Every year Victoria welcomes more students, more visitors and more businesses from India, but our relationship is about more than just numbers. It’s about strong friendships and shared contributions.”

“India makes an enormous contribution to Victoria. Demonstrating our strengths and opportunities to the people of India is great for our economy and great for jobs.”

“Victoria is proudly home to more Indian people than any other Australian state, and I’m honoured to pay homage to their home country and their culture.”