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The IJSG
Secretary General Mr. Sudripta Roy met Mr. Robert Furolo,
MP, Mayor, City of Canterbury, NSW and the officials of
Department of State and Regional Development, NSW on 26 July
2010 as a part of visit to Australia and New Zealand from 23
July to 3 August 2010. Mr. Roy was accompanied by the
Finance and Administrative Officer (F&AO) of the IJSG Mr.
Md. Faruque Hossain. The Secretary General explained the
various applications of jute and urged the people of
Australia from all walks of life to use biodegradable and
environment friendly products in their day to day
requirements to maintain safe and sound environment. In
response to the appeal of the Head of the IJSG, Mr. Robert
Furolo said that he was
aware about the benefits of using jute products and
interested in promoting this natural fibre in his region. He
also welcomed the proposal of the Secretary General in
organizing a seminar; exhibition and fashion show and
assured all sorts of support in making the event successful.
The IJSG
Secretary General found similar interest while he was
discussing in the meeting with Michael O'Sullivan, Director,
International Markets and Trade and Mr. Paul Judge, Senior
Manager, Agribusiness, Department of State and Regional
Development, NSW held in MLC Centre on the same day. Mr. Md.
Jashim Uddin, Chief Executive, Trade World SS (Associate
Member of the IJSG) was also present in both the meeting.
The meeting was supposed to be held with Mr. Frank Sartor,
MP, and Minister for Climate Change and the Environment,
NSW. He suddenly became busy with election campaign but
hoped to discuss the issues in future in any convenient
time. The NSW Trade and Investment Centre officials
expressed their keen interest to work with the IJSG and host
a seminar to promote jute and kenaf to the potential growers
and users, in early 2011. They opined that the seminar could
take place in their NSW Trade and Investment Centre, L47 MLC
Centre, 17 Martin Place, Sydney, or possibly in a suitable
regional location, such as Wagga Wagga or Albury.
The Secretary
General and F&AO called on His Excellency LT General Masud
Uddin Chowdhury, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh in
Canberra on 27 July 2010. They discussed the prospects of
jute in the context of present global necessity and
invention of jute genome. The High Commissioner assured the
Secretary General to give all-out support to arrange any
promotional activities to be undertaken by the IJSG in
Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Azhar Huq, Commercial
Counselor & HOC Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra,
Australia and Mr. Md. Jashim Uddin, Chief Executive of the
Trade World SS were also present in the meeting. The IJSG
delegate also visited CSIRO, Canberra on the same day and
observed the germplasm of jute, the outcome of research of
the erstwhile IJO project which was kept in CSIRO as replica
storage. Afterward the Secretary General and F&AO met the
CSIRO officials at their meeting room. During the discussion
the Secretary General expressed his satisfaction on
preservation of the germplasm of jute and he mentioned some
points regarding its further research by interested
institutes or persons, application by the interested growers
and suppliers to the institutes those who show interest to
have this germplasm for their experimental purpose. The
CSIRO officials informed that the germplasm required to be
examined whether they are still functional or not. Apart
from this the germplasm may be provided anywhere with the
consent of the IJSG subject to the compliance of the
quarantine policy of the Australian Government. Mr. Chris
Malouf, Strategic Advisor and Ms. Liza Apps of CSIRO were
present in the meeting on behalf of CSIRO.
During their
visit to New Zealand, the IJSG officials attended a meeting
with Ms. Bernadette Casey, Director, Ataahua World, a Design
Studio of Natural Fibre based in Wellington of NZ and other
officials as well as Mr. Mark Hildesley, P.E. (USA) of
Material Optimizing Ltd. based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Both the entities have shown their interest on jute and
expressed their commitment to work with the natural fibres
like jute in their respective field.
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