The famous baton is currently travelling around Australia with several of the delegates attending the conference and will today arrive in Middleton's Melbourne office.

"It is not often that someone coming to a business networking meeting can bring the Queen's Baton with them and I know all attendees will be delighted to see this tangible symbol of our common history," said head of Middletons India Group Cameron Abbott.

The conference will play host to some of India's key business leaders - as well as the Australian Industry Group, the Australia India Business Council, the City of Melbourne, and the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development - who will focus on networking and sharing ideas about doing business through sport.

"Sport is big business in both [India and Australia] and we realise that sport sometimes presents unique legal challenges, often in the context of public scrutiny that characterises all facets of professional sport," said Abbott.

Legal challenges aside, it is hoped that a common love for sport will produce solid relationships and ideas about how to better conduct business between the two countries.

"It's not just the business end of sport. Both Australians and Indians love their sport, including cricket and the Commonwealth Games, and many a business deal has no doubt been struck while watching their beloved side win or lose," said Abbott.