After a competitive application process, AusHub Vietnam (AusHub) have allocated an in-country wool industry representative to peak woolgrower representative body WoolProducers Australia.
WoolProducers Australia is one of three successful industry groups that will be supported by a dedicated Industry Representative in Vietnam through the AusHub program.
WoolProducers Chief Executive Officer, Ms Jo Hall said, “WoolProducers are pleased to secure this resource on behalf of all Australian wool growers. We intend to use the AusHub wool industry representative to build on the recommendations and opportunities identified in the “Ensuring a sustainable future for Australia’s wool supply chain” report conducted by Deloitte Access Economics (DAE), which was released in November 2022.”
The dedicated wool representative will assist with the identification of pathways to expand trade opportunities for Australian wool to Vietnam.
Vietnam has strong economic growth prospects with a forecast 7% growth in GDP in the coming year. Complementing the growing textile sector within Vietnam, imports of carded/combed wool have been growing in recent years. More recently, a major global wool spinning operation has established a facility in Vietnam.
Ms Hall said, “The DAE report identified Vietnam as a country worthy of further assessment for the establishment of early-stage wool processing as an avenue for market expansion. This, combined with the outlook for economic growth in Vietnam, particularly within their textile sector, presents an ideal opportunity for both countries”.
“While market development activities have taken place in Vietnam in the past, the partnership with AusHub is seeking to identify strategic opportunities for new and vastly expanded early and intermediate-stage wool processing. It is our intention that the AusHub wool industry representative will work closely with current Australian Wool Innovation market development activities in Vietnam”.
The Australian Industry Hub (AusHub) is an initiative between the Australian Chamber of Commerce Vietnam (AusCham) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to facilitate access to markets in Vietnam for Australian Industry Groups in Food Fibre and Forestry.
“WoolProducers are proud to have shown leadership in this space and appreciate the opportunity presented by the AusCham and DFAT through the AusHub industry representatives”, Ms Hall said.
2023 is the 50th Anniversary of Australian and Vietnamese diplomatic relations. The slogan for the year is ‘People, Partnership, Prosperity’.
ENDS
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WoolProducers Australia contacts:
Jo Hall, CEO
0488 554 811
Adam Dawes, GM
0455 442 776
About WoolProducers’ Australia WoolProducers plays a critical role in working closely with companies and entities funded by woolgrower funds including compulsory levies or fees for service.
Its mission is to develop constructive and profitable outcomes for woolgrowers nationally.
The agency is responsible for appointing a director to each of the Australian Wool Exchange and the Australia Wool Testing Authority, promoting good corporate governance and ensuring that the interests of growers are met.
WoolProducers maintains a working relationship with Australian Wool Innovation as the voice of woolgrower shareholders. It aims to contribute to AWI’s programs for the benefit of growers, promoting responsible use of levy funds and ensuring good corporate governance.
WoolProducers is the sole wool industry member of Animal Health Australia, and as such, carries a significant responsibility for decision making on behalf of the industry in the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak.
As the only wool grower organisation with membership of the National Farmers’ Federation, WoolProducers is responsible for providing key policy advice on behalf of our members, and other wool growers, to Australia’s peak farm body.
WoolProducers also works closely with the Federal Government Departments on key issues such as animal health and welfare, biosecurity, pest management control, natural resource management, drought preparedness, emergency animal disease outbreak preparedness and industry development, including research, trade and logistics.