1st Meeting of Joint Working Group on Cyber Security Cooperation Between India and Australia Held Virtually

The first meeting of the Joint Working Group on Cyber Security Cooperation between India and Australia was held virtually today. Paulomi Tripathi, Director (Oceania), in the Ministry of External Affairs led the Indian delegation of experts to discuss the cyber security cooperation between the two countries.

The Joint Working Group on Cyber Security Cooperation is a mechanism established under the Framework Arrangement on the Cyber and Cyber-enabled Critical Technology Cooperation between India and Australia to implement the 2020-25 Plan of Action under the Framework. It brings together policy makers and working level experts in the area to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

During this first meeting of the JWG, both sides noted the steady progress made in bilateral relations after the elevation of the



relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the Leaders’ Virtual Summit between the two Prime Ministers in June last year. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to work together in the areas of digital economy, cyber security and critical and emerging technologies as identified by the Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber-Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation.

India and Australia shared cyber security threat assessments as well as information on legislation and national cyber strategies. Noting the need to strengthen security of critical information infrastructure as well as 5G technology and IoT devices, India and Australia agreed to enhance cooperation with private sector and academia and to work together in skill and knowledge development. Both sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the multilateral fora.