Australian firm plans weaving clusters in Gujarat, Manipur

Plans to imbibe Australia's Merino wool in handloom clusters to raise imports

In a bid to raise imports of the premium Merino wool from Down Under, Australia's The Woolmark Company is planning to tap handloom weaving clusters in Gujarat and Manipur. The Woolmark Company, which represents 55,000 wool growers in Australia, hopes to raise imports of Merino wool in India on the back of varied textile products.

“About 85 per cent of Indian wool is that of carpet grade, with 10 per cent being coarse grade and only five per cent apparel grade. The textile and apparel industry imports bulk of its wool from Australia. Yet, as against China’s 80 per cent share,