Dr S. Janakiraman, Consul General of India in Sydney, recently visited the cotton-rich towns of Narrabri and Gunnedah in New South Wales. The trip focused on enhancing ties between Australia and India in agriculture, particularly cotton and textiles.
In Narrabri, Dr Janakiraman toured the Australian Food & Fibre (AFF) cotton farm and ginning facilities. AFF operates across several valleys in NSW and manages ginning operations in each of these regions . The Consul General’s visit provided an opportunity to observe Australia’s cotton production processes firsthand.
Discussions during the visit included meetings with local business leaders from agriculture, food, logistics, and warehousing sectors. These conversations aimed to explore collaborative opportunities between Indian and Australian enterprises.
Dr Janakiraman was accompanied by NSW MPs Roy Butler and Warren Kirby, as well as Irfan Malik, President of the NSW chapter of the Australia India Business Council (AIBC). Mr Butler represents the Barwon electorate, which encompasses both Narrabri and Gunnedah . Mr Kirby serves as the Member for Riverstone and co-chairs the NSW Parliamentary Friends of India .
The visit highlighted the ongoing efforts to strengthen Australia-India relations, particularly in sectors like agriculture and textiles. With both nations seeking to expand their trade partnerships, such engagements are steps toward deeper economic collaboration.
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