The world's number one wool producing country Australia has expressed interest to export wool to Bangladesh to help the country produce fabrics made of wool and jute fibre.

"Bangladesh has a quite sophisticated apparel manufacturing industry based on cotton-yarn and jute industry while we have a wool producing industry. And a special fabric can be produced by mixing Australian wool with Bangladeshi jute fibre," said Kimberley Maurice Chance, minister for Agriculture and Forestry, State of Western Australia.

Bangladeshi apparel manufacturers can produce military and school uniform for Australia by using this special fabric, he said adding, "It will create new opportunities to expand the use of this special fabric."

The Australian minister also said, "Our wool research institute and Bangladeshi jute research institute can join hands to produce such fabric."

Chance, who is leading a five-member high-profile delegation of Australia, was speaking at a meeting with the Bangladeshi business leaders at the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) auditorium in Dhaka yesterday with FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain in the chair.

Criticising the existing policy of subsidising the agriculture sector in the most developed countries including the USA and the EU, he stressed the need for maintaining a fair trade environment for all the countries.

Chance also urged the Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to invest in Australian dairy sector adding that Australia has a 25-year experience in food production.

Responding to the demands of Bangladeshi businesspeople, the Australian minister said Australian labour market can only be opened for skilled people.

He also made commitment to granting more scholarship for Bangladeshi researchers.

Welcoming the idea of blending Bangladeshi jute with Australian wool for making specialised fabric, the FBCCI president said it may be a breakthrough in the country's jute industry.

He also urged the Australian government to come forward to supply fabric on buy-back arrangements.

"There is potential for boosting export of such other items as garments, leather products, porcelain tableware, frozen foods, agro-processed products, pharmaceuticals and handicrafts to Australian market," he added.

The business leaders also urged the Australian government to ease visa-processing rules for Bangladeshi businesspeople.

Bangladesh's import from Australia was worth US $297.45 million against the export volume of $35.83 million in fiscal year 2004-05. Two items - jute and chemical fertilizer - constitute about 66 percent of exports to Australia.

Thedailystar.net