In 1997, Ramy Azer discovered a veneering and laminating technique using banana tree trunk fibre. His research is based on the ancient Egyptian papyrus technique. After many prototypes, he built the machinery necessary to put this technology into practice.

Tom Johnston and Ramy Azer met in 1999 at the World Banana Conference held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Their meeting was organised by a United Nations representative, who realised these two inventions needed to work together.

This ensured the harvesting of enough fibre to produce a viable paper making industry.

Some images from ABC Landline story (see links)