After Australia’s historic Cricket World Cup win at their first major Indian cricket project, Narendara Modi Stadium, Populous have been officially unveiled as the lead architect on the redevelopment of Kolkata’s famed Eden Gardens.   

The redevelopment project will create a truly 21st century venue at Eden Gardens, with safety, sustainability and experience at the core, looking to increase the 68,000 seat capacity while keeping the same footprint, ensuring fans remain close to the action.  

Populous will bring its expertise in working on the world’s leading cricket stadiums, such as Lord’s Cricket Ground, the MCG and the Gabba, to the project. 

The world-renowned firm is responsible for iconic stadium builds both domestically and abroad, including Suncorp Stadium and Heritage Bank Stadium in Queensland, the National Olympic Speed Skating Oval in Beijing and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. 

Populous is currently engaged in two further cricket projects in India and has also joined the country’s quest for the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games by delivering the masterplan of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave, and being part of the overall feasibility study for Ahmedabad – which is expected to be at the centre stage of India’s Olympic aspirations.  

Populous Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Paul Henry said his firm were honoured to have the opportunity to work on one of the most revered grounds in world cricket.  

“This is a win for Queensland professional services firms as the state continues to build its trade and investment relationship with India,” he said.  

 “We can be very proud of the Queensland design talent we export to India and indeed all over the world.  

 “This success is another example of the trade opportunities that Queensland firms can create in the run up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and these opportunities cannot be underestimated.” 

Trade and Investment Queensland CEO Justin McGowan said Populous had been responsible for many of the world’s most cutting-edge stadia projects.

“Populous personifies Queensland’s vision on a global scale,” he said.

“Their continued success across a major market like India reflects their growing stature as a leading international architectural design firm and we remain eminently proud of their Queensland innovation and origins. 

 “We are proud of our strong links to India through our shared rivalry and passion for competition and sport, these are natural areas for Queensland and India to collaborate and Eden Gardens stadium is a global symbol of sport. 

 “Our Queensland-India Trade and Investment Strategy focuses on strengthening our bilateral ties through existing economic, institutional and people-to-people links, and sports diplomacy will always play a significant and central role in this process.”

In 2022-23, the value of Queensland architectural, engineering, scientific and other technical services exports grew by $105 million or 56% to $292 million, representing 20% of the national share.

FAST FACTS

  • India is Queensland’s third largest goods export market valued at $16.5 billion.
  • India was the world’s most populous country in 2023 with 1.43 billion people and is projected to be the world’s third largest economy by 2030.
  • Queensland’s Indian diaspora has grown to over 90,000, making it the third largest Indian community in the country and the second largest non-European diaspora in the State.
  • The Queensland-India Trade and Investment Strategy 2023-27 was launched in August and will be delivered by Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ).
  • TIQ has had a presence in India since 2004 and currently operates out of offices in both Bengaluru and Mumbai.
  • Eighty per cent of Populous’ business is export based and it won the coveted Australian Exporter of the Year award in 2019.
  • All Populous’ work in the Asia Pacific is directed from the APAC headquarters in Brisbane with fourteen Populous offices reporting to Brisbane including in Korea, Malaysia, India, China, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand, Sydney, Melbourne, and Japan.
  • In 2022-23, Queensland total (goods and services) exports were nominally valued at $144.3 billion, a new record high.
  • In 2022-23, Queensland goods exports represented over one fifth of total national goods exports.
  • One in five Queensland jobs is supported by exports.

About Trade and Investment Queensland

Trade and Investment Queensland is the Queensland Government’s dedicated global business agency with representation in 16 countries, across 21 locations, with 12 Trade and Investment Commissioners covering seven regions around the world. TIQ helps Queensland companies access international markets and facilitates foreign investments in the state. Contact us here