Wool Board Announces Next Steps

NEWS MEDIA RELEASE

18 August 1999

Wool Board Announces Next Steps

New Zealand Wool Board Chairman, Bruce Munro, today announced that a project would shortly begin to develop viable solutions to address issues of profitability within the wool industry.

"We are now in a position to move to the next phase of our strategic planning process which will be in the form of a wool industry business development project," said Mr Munro.

"The first step will be to assess the options available to growers and the industry to define its future direction and structure," he said.

"Through a process which has included the extensive round of area meetings held throughout the country recently, the Board has developed a number of strategic options aimed at providing solutions to the current set of industry problems.

"What is clear, however, is that growers, grower groups and other industry members have also developed options for the future of the industry," said Mr Munro.

"It is now time for an independent assessment of all of these to determine which should be adopted as the way forward."

To this end, Mr Munro said independent consultants would be contracted to carry out an in-depth analysis of the future potential for wool.

"Growers, representative organisations, customers and service providers will be widely consulted throughout the process by both the Board and the independent company appointed.

"The most important outcome from this project will be a wool industry development plan which can be pursued by all industry participants for the future good of the entire industry.

"It is my hope that this project will provide a focus that will allow us all to work together to achieve a viable future for wool."

Terms of reference for the appointment of the independent company are currently being prepared.

ENDS

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