India, Australia discuss wool cooperation

India has proposed a memorandum of understanding on wool cooperation with Australia, its largest supplier, which envisages establishing a world class laboratory and setting up of a wool exchange for grading and marketing of wool in India.

The proposed research facility, to be set up in collaboration with Australian Wool Testing Authority (AWTA), is expected to come up at the Wool Research Association in Mumbai.

The proposed MoU also includes an exchange programme for Indian sheep breeders to visit Australia. This will help Indian sheep breeders gain knowledge in breed improvement and betterment of wool.

Union minister of state for textiles Panabaaka Lakshmi discussed the modalities for the MoU on wool cooperation with Mike Kelly, parliamentary secretary for agriculture, fisheries and forestry in Canberra, on Thursday. The minister also discussed the setting up of institutional structures for closer collaboration and expeditious formulation of an MOU on wool sector.

Australia is the largest wool exporter in the world and India imports wool worth $200 million from that country. Wool imports from Australia envisages substantial increase in the spindlages of Indian wool and textile mills, the minister said.

Panabaaka Lakshmi also visited the AWTA, the Australian Wool Exchange and a wool processing plant in Melbourne, as well as merino sheep breeding farm in Victoria. She also visited Australian Wool Innovation in Sydney.