The objective of the Council's institutional and professional links
program is to foster bilateral contacts that will strengthen links between key
institutions in the two countries, such as universities, libraries, museums,
technical colleges, research institutes, professional organisations and
appropriate non-government organisations, with a view to promoting the
long-term bilateral commercial relationship.

The Council has supported, over several years, a wide range of projects
designed to promote closer links between the Australian and Indian legal
sectors and to demonstrate Australian legal capabilities in India. These
projects have built on opportunities identified during the Australia-India
legal conference held in New Delhi during October 1996 as part of the Australia
India-New Horizons promotion.

One of the major Council-funded law projects has been to introduce
Australian mediation and conciliation practices to the Indian legal,
government and business communities. As well as enhancing the efficiency of
the Indian legal system, the project has strengthened links between the
Australian and Indian legal professions.

Following on from the success of the training program in mediation
practices conducted by Lawyers Engaged in Alternative Dispute Resolution
(LEADR) in Mumbai, New Delhi and Calcutta in January 1998, the Council
provided funding to LEADR for a second series of training programs in legal
mediation and conciliation practice in New Delhi, Bangalore and Calcutta in
February 1999. The Council also agreed to provide funding for follow-up
training for Indian mediation and conciliation trainers, to be conducted by
LEADR in Sydney in October 1999.

The Council provided funding to Mr Christopher Roper, Director of the
Centre for Legal Education, Sydney, and Ms Audrey Blunden, Director of
Professional Development for the law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques in Sydney,
towards travel expenses to conduct a program of training workshops in the
drafting of legal documents in Bangalore and Pune in January 1999. This
project also aimed at encouraging recognition in India of the quality and
accessibility of Australian legal services.

Activities under the Council's institutional links program which took place
during 1998-99, but for which funding had been agreed during the previous
financial year, included:

• a program of seminars in Bangalore and New Delhi in November 1998
  conducted by Opportunity International Australia (OIA) to develop
  expertise in the governance and accountability of microenterprise
  development organisations
• a visit to Australia in July 1998 by Mr Raj Patel, Acting Director of
  the All India Alliance for Microenterprise Development, in conjunction
  with the OIA seminars in India.