India and Australia have forged strong bilateral relationship over the years and the same has been improved and expanded in the recent years. In June 2020, India and Australia entered into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with both the countries agreeing to work together in multiple sectors, including trade and investment, science and technology, maritime, education, agriculture, defence and tourism. At present, over 600 Australian companies are operating in India across sectors like financial services, technology, healthcare, mining, consumer goods and more. Bilateral trade between India and Australia reached a value of USD 22.1 billion in the year 2021, which increased to USD 31.4 billion in the year 2022. In the year 2023, Australia became the sixth largest trading partner of India. In December 2022, both the countries signed a free trade agreement. Let’s have a look at the top 10 Australian companies in India for the year 2025.
1. BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton, founded in the year 1851, is an Australian multinational mining company producing metallurgical coal, iron ore, copper and more. The company entered India in the year 1994 and started with technical and training arrangements with the Steel Authority of India Limited. However, it soon began importing metallurgical coal for Indian consumers and is now a major supplier of energy coal in India, especially for the cement industry.
BHP Billiton is also involved in mining activities in India, particularly involving base metals and iron ore. Furthermore, the company is trying to position itself as a major supplier of liquefied natural gas in India.
2. SMEC Holdings Limited
SMEC Holdings Limited, established in the year 1970, is an Australian multinational firm specialising in consultancy and engineering services for infrastructure projects. It has been operating in India since the year 1975 through its subsidiary, SMEC India Private Limited. SMEC India has worked in a number of infrastructure projects in India, including Rohtang Highway Tunnel, Kohata Hydroelectric Project, Dedicated Freight Corridor and Karnataka State Highways Rehabilitation Project.
SMEC India opened its first office in India in the year 1991. Currently, the company has 7 permanent offices in multiple cities across India.
3. ANZ Banking Group
ANZ Banking Group, founded in the year 1951, is an Australian multinational banking and financial services company. ANZ started operations in India in the year 1984, but established its first branch in the year 2011 in Mumbai. The bank offers a number of services to institutional and corporate clients in India, including working capital and term financing, Indian rupee and foreign currency services, foreign exchange and interest rate solutions, transaction banking and advisory services.
ANZ India operates branches in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. In addition, the bank has an operations centre in Bangalore which supports its operations in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
4. FCM Travel Solutions
FCM Travel Solutions, founded in the year 2004, is an Australian travel management company specialising in corporate travel solutions for enterprises across industries. It operates in India through its subsidiary, FCM Travel India Private Limited. FCM India provides a diverse range of corporate travel services, including group bookings, charter services, visa/passport assistance, travel insurance assistance, VIP executive services, leisure travel services and payment solutions.
FCM Travel India is headquartered at Marol, Andheri East, Mumbai. It has offices in multiple major cities, including Bangalore, Delhi-NCR, Chennai and Kolkata.
5. Rio Tinto Group
Rio Tinto Group, founded in the year 1873, is an Australian multinational metal and mining corporation dealing in diamonds, iron ore, copper, aluminium and other metals and minerals. Rio Tinto entered India in the year 1989 with the establishment of its office in Mumbai. The company supplies diamonds, aluminium and boron to the Indian market. Furthermore, it also has investments in iron ore and other kinds of mines in India.
Rio Tinto operates an innovation centre in Pune, Maharashtra in association with iGate Patni. This centre develops new mining technologies like driverless trucks and drills.
6. Linfox
Linfox, established in the year 1956, is an Australian multinational logistics, transport and supply chain company. The company entered India in the year 2006 and currently has 16 offices across the country. Linfox offers a number of services in India, including transport, freight management, warehousing and distribution, and digital solutions for smarter supply chains.
Linfox owns 1.9 million square feet of warehousing space across India and handles 120 million cases in the country per annum. It also has a fleet of over 2500 vehicles in India.
7. Westpac Banking Corporation
Westpac Banking Corporation, founded in the year 1817, holds the distinction of being the first bank established in Australia, and currently maintains offices in numerous countries all over the world. Westpac started operations in India through a representative office in the year 2007, prior to getting a foreign banking license from the RBI in April 2012. It offers wholesale and retail banking services, trade finance, deposits and remittances, in India.
8. Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Commonwealth Bank of Australia, founded in the year 2011, is an Australian multinational bank specialising retail, institutional and business banking, fund management, insurance and other financial services. The bank opened its first branch in India in the year 2010 in Mumbai. However, since 2016, CBA is not offering financial services in India. Instead, it has an operations centre in Bangalore which is engaged in improving and streamlining the bank’s global operations and customer services.
9. Macquarie Group
Macquarie Group, founded in the year 1969, is an American multinational conglomerate with diversified business interests, including infrastructure development and financial services. Macquarie Asset Management, a division of Macquarie Group, has been operating in India since the year 2005. It invests in road projects, renewable energy projects and other infrastructure sectors in India.
10. Telstra
Telstra, founded in the year 1975, is a major Australian telecommunications company specialising in telecommunications equipment and network. The company operates in India with offices in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai. It provides a number of products and services to Indian consumers, including enterprise 5G, business apps, cloud connectivity and network services.
Conclusion
Free Trade Agreement between India and Australia has opened up new business opportunities for Australian companies in India and vice versa. Thus, the Australian investments in Indian economy are likely to increase in the coming years.
