Baaaa………Sydney Wins World Sheep and Wool Congress
Australia’s world-class sheep industry will soon be in the international spotlight, following the announcement that the World Sheep and Wool Congress will be held in Sydney in 2010.
Australia secured the right to host the event after a unanimous vote from the World Council of Sheep Breeders, defeating competitive bids from Brazil and South Africa. The 2010 Congress represents only the second time Australia has hosted the prestigious industry event in its 21-year history. The Congress was held in Tasmania in 1989.
Announcing Sydney’s win, Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau Managing Director Jon Hutchison said the SCVB was very excited to have secured the Congress, which will bring more than 1000 delegates to the city over six days. Mr Hutchison said the SCVB estimated the Congress would inject more than $5 million into the NSW economy.
“Importantly, it will also create a fantastic forum for Australia to display its expertise in this industry to an international audience, opening the way for further industry and business development,” Mr Hutchison said.
Australia is the world’s leading exporter of mutton and wool and the second largest exporter of lamb.
Mr Hutchison said the Congress meeting would be held in Sydney on April 6-9, 2010 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and would be hosted by the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) in conjunction with the Royal Easter Show.
Sydney’s bid to hold the event was led by Ben Watts, Vice-President of the World Council of Sheep Breeders who is based in Molong in central NSW. The bid was assisted by the RAS NSW and the SCVB, while a range of other bodies, including the NSW Department of State and Regional Development and Australian Wool Innovation, also provided support.
Mr Watts described the win as a “real coup” for the Australian sheep industry.
“This Congess will help us attract potential business partners and develop new business relationships and opportunities at a time of change in the global market,” Mr Watts said.
Mr Watts presented Sydney’s bid to the Congress World Committee during the 2007 World Congress held in Mexico in July. During the event, Sydney hosted a VIP reception for Australian delegates and World Committee members, with Mr Watts and the Australian Ambassador to Mexico, Neil Mules, presenting the case for Australia to host the meeting.
Sydney also had a strong presence at the Congress exhibition, with a booth featuring brochures, award winning garments from TAWFA (The Australian Wool Fashion Awards) and quality wool samples proving very popular with visitors.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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