India and Australia are close to finalising an agreement on wool production and trade, which will include the setting up of a wool testing facility in Mumbai.
The Indian government said the two countries were “in the advanced stage” of finalising a memorandum of understanding (MoU), during a visit to India by Australian Minister of Sports, Industry and Innovation Kate Lundy.
“We are seeking to set up a world-class wool testing laboratory in Mumbai in collaboration with the wool testing authority in Australia and Wool Research Association in Mumbai,” said Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles.
The MoU is set to consider improved co-operation in the field of wool and woollen products, including capacity building, research and training, in areas such as improved wool production, quality assurance and testing, skills development and improvement, integrated wool processing and development, and marketing systems.
Textiles worth US$155m – most of them wool and woollen goods – were imported into India from Australia in 2010, while India is Australia’s largest supplier of apparel after China and Bangladesh.

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