Australia can help to develop wool farms in J&K: Khajuria

Excelsior Correspondent
New Delhi, Nov 27: Romesh Khajuria, Chairman, Wool and Woollens Export Promotion Council (WWEPC), Ministry of Textile, Government of India met Australian High Commission, New Delhi and discussed various issues of wool exporters, India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA) and also discussed steps to enhance cooperation between India and Australia for development of wool farms in Jammu and Kashmir.
Khajuria, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, said that finest wool is available in J&K and as per requirement of the International market some steps are required to enhance the product quality; here both India and Australia can work together. He has sought its cooperation for developing International Standard Wool farms in the UT.
Khajuria, who attended interactive session organised by Australian High Commission New Delhi “Crown in Australia Made in India” said that trade relations between both the countries under the landmark India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA), will help each other with hand holding in exchange or technology and techniques.
He further added that India imports more than seventy thousand tons of raw wool annually from Australia, New Zealand and other countries of which 40-45% coming from Australia alone and after Ind-Aus ECTA raw materials and intermediate products which will allow many Indian industries to get cheaper raw materials and make them competitive, which certainly increase investments and employment in both the countries, thereby promoting vertical Movement in the value chain.
He said after processing and making product the final product would export to these countries, which will also be duty free and people there get it at competitive price.
The session was also attended by John Robert, CEO, Australian Wool Innovation, Trudie Friedrich, Regional Development Manager, John Southwell, Trade & Investment Commissioner, Australian Government, Kiran Karamil, Counselor (Agriculture), Australian Government in Australia High Commission, New Delhi, Suresh Thakur, ED, WWEPC, G S Bhatti, ED CWDB, GOI and others.
Major players of woolen industry like Singora International, Ganga Acro Wool industry, Tripathi Balaji industries from Ludhiana and representatives of brands like Ramonds, Jai Shree, Reliance and others were also present.