India is rapidly emerging as a preferred business hub over China, according to a recent Australian delegation specializing in mining equipment. Representatives praised Indian companies for their transparency, honesty, and cost-effectiveness, noting that India operates within a legal framework that resonates with Australia’s own, a legacy of their shared British history.
Clayton Franklin, Founder and Chief Engineer of EPCA, is a key participant in Australia’s inaugural ‘First Nations Business Mission to India.’ This initiative focuses on businesses owned by Australia’s Indigenous peoples. The mission brought together eight Australian Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) companies from Western Australia for a week-long visit to Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata. Their primary goal: to foster robust trade and investment opportunities between Australia’s First Nations businesses and India’s dynamic mining and renewable energy sectors.
Franklin elaborated on the preference for India: “We find strong synergy working with India. While China’s costs are rising, and we’ve encountered issues with honesty and adherence to patent and intellectual property laws there, India offers a refreshing contrast. The legal systems in both our countries, stemming from the U.K., provide a familiar and reliable foundation. This common ground, coupled with the absence of significant language barriers, streamlines our operations. The notion of being exploited by Indian companies is far from our experience; many operate much like Western enterprises. We appreciate the perceived lack of corruption, making India a straightforward and reliable place to do business.” His company, which offers global zero-emission solutions for mining equipment conversions, sees immense potential in retrofitting India’s 100-tonne electric mining trucks.
Adding to this perspective, Chris Schmid, Managing Director of Woollahra Group, a company specializing in cleaning, janitorial, and hygiene products, emphasized India’s role in optimizing logistics and environmental impact. “For the past two decades, China has been our primary import channel in Western Australia. However, the supply chain spans four months, requiring substantial upfront capital investment for stock. India presents a viable alternative, potentially slashing our supply chain investment from four months to just one. We share the Indian Ocean, which significantly enhances shipping efficiency. I’m incredibly enthusiastic about exploring Indian sourcing opportunities for Western Australia’s world-leading mining sector.”
Schmid further highlighted the environmental benefits: “Beyond the gains in time and cost, there’s a substantial carbon reduction. Truncating a four-month shipping route to one month equates to a remarkable 75% decrease in carbon emissions from logistics. We are actively seeking partnerships that align with both our commercial interests and our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint.”