Since May 2014, there have been deep-rooted structural as well as governance reforms in India. The focus of the reforms has been on substantially improving economic performance to boost short-run growth prospects and lay the foundations for sustained and sustainable economic growth, as well as improving economic outcomes for all Indians in the long-run. Several major reforms have been undertaken to improve the investment climate, rationalise both direct and indirect taxes, further open up the economy to international trade and investment, improve governance, and assure transparency in government operations.

This Update will bring together distinguished economists and policymakers from India and Australia to review some of these policy changes, assess their prospects for success and understand their implications for Australian economic policy.

Speakers:

• H.E. Dr A M Gondane, High Commissioner of India
• Professor Raghbendra Jha, Professor of Economics, ANU
• Adam Hawkins, Manager Emerging Economies Unit, Treasury, Commonwealth Government of Australia
• Sher Singh Verick, Visiting Fellow, Australia South Asia Research Centre, ANU; and Deputy Director, ILO DWT for South Asia and Country Office for India, New Delhi, India
• Professor Prema-chandra Athukorala, ANU
• Associate Professor C Veeramani„ Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, India
• Venkatachalam Thiruppugazh, Joint Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India, New Delhi, India