NSW’s 25 most influential Indian Australians listed

With the growing importance of links to the world’s fastest growing large economy The Daily Telegraph has identified the 25 most powerful and influential Indian Australians in NSW.

Matthew Benns and Angira Bharadwaj

2 min read

February 8, 2024 - 6:18AM

NSW

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Australia’s booming Indian community is the “secret weapon” that will see exports triple to $45 billion in the next decade.

With the growing importance of links to the world’s fastest growing large economy The Daily Telegraph has identified the 25 most powerful and influential Indian Australians in NSW.

Topping that list is NSW treasurer Daniel Mookhey who said the rapidly growing Indian community, which will outnumber Chinese-born Australians by 2031, is “our secret weapon” to Indian trade relations.

“It means that we are just way ahead of everybody, when it comes to being able to engage India, to get investment from India into Australia, but to also get Australian investment into India,” Mr Mookhey said.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF NSW’S MOST INFLUENTIAL INDIAN AUSTRALIANS

Pictured in his office at Martin Place in Sydney is NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, NSW’s most powerful and influential Indian Australian. Picture: Richard Dobson

Australian exports to India are expected to triple to $45 billion by 2035 and investment into India will hit $100 billion as the fastest growing economy in the world becomes the world’s largest population.

Former NSW Premier and High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell said India has the world’s fastest growing middle class and is an “enormous market” for Australia.

“India will be Australia’s most consequential relationship this century and as the largest state, NSW will be the major beneficiary of that,” he said.

Mr O’Farrell said one in 26 Australians are of Indian origin and those people would be key in building those relationships. Official figures show India has been the largest source of new Australians for five years running with Indian born Australians predicted to reach 1.4 million by 2031.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF NSW’S MOST INFLUENTIAL INDIAN AUSTRALIANS

Former premier Barry O'Farrell said the power list helped to identify how Indian Australians are helping shape the nation. Picture: Brett Costello

Mr O’Farrell said The Daily Telegraph’s Indian power list is “a good idea” because it identifies how Indian Australians are reaching the top in all areas of society and “acknowledges that Indian migrants to Australia are incredibly industrious.

One of the key areas of growth is in the number of international students arriving in NSW from India. Sydney University has seen a jump of 80 per cent in student numbers from India – putting it just behind China and ahead of Vietnam which has seen enrolments increase by 41.7 per cent and Indonesia at 36.8 per cent.