New Delhi/Sydney: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday jointly laid the foundation stone of ‘Little India’ Gateway to be built in Harris Park, Parramatta, Sydney, that is home to a large Indian community.

The two leaders jointly unveiled the plaque for the Gateway entrance to "Little India" in Harris Park.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet said: “Recognising diaspora’s role as a bridge between India and Australia."

“PM @narendramodi joined PM @AlboMP for the foundation stone laying ceremony of ‘Little India’ Gateway to be built in Harris Park, Parramatta, Sydney, inhabited by a large Indian community," he said.

“The Gateway will serve as a symbol of India-Australia friendship and diaspora’s immense contribution to it," he said.

The area covers three streets – Marion Street, Wigram Street and Station Street East in Sydney's Harris Park, famous for housing a cluster of Indian eateries and businesses and known as 'Little India’.

Harris Park is a thriving, dynamic, multicultural hub known for its blend of cultures and large Indian population. Majority of local businesses are from the Indian sub-continent, referred as ‘Little India’ of Australia. It is a precinct of Indian eateries, 22ct gold Jewellery , Indian spices and fashion which mark it as vibrant hub of Australian Indian community.

Harris Park is a small suburb next to Parramatta that has in the last 10 to 15 years emerged as the go-to spot for Indians.

The 2021 census shows 45 per cent of the 5,043 Harris Park residents were born in India.

People of Indian heritage own a majority of businesses in Harris Park.

A group of nearly 60 Indian store owners who had been campaigning for Harris Park to be renamed, were involved in the preparations to welcome Prime Minister Modi to lay the foundation stone of the 'Little India' Gateway entrance.

Little India Harris Park Business Association president Sanjay Deshwal said they had first proposed officially naming the area Little India in 2015.

He said since then, the number of Indian businesses had doubled from about 30 to about 60.

(With UNI inputs)