Inaugural session of 3rd World Bamboo Workshop-2019 at City Convention Centre in Imphal on February 4. (NNN Photo)
Newmai News Network
Imphal | February 4
The 3rd World Bamboo Workshop kicked off in Imphal today with a large number of dignitaries/delegates from around 34 countries. The event is being held at City Convention Centre, Palace Compound in Imphal East district. The workshop will culminate on February 9.
The five-day workshop is jointly organised by World Bamboo Organisation and the Government of Manipur. The workshop being held in Manipur is the first in Asia. The first edition of the workshop was held in Mexico in 2017 and the second edition in Peru in 2018.
World Bamboo Workshop is the largest international multi-disciplinary theoretical and practical event in which people from all over the world participate along with world leaders and experts in the use of bamboo. Delegates from 34 countries including Mexico, US, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, Chile, Germany, UK, France, Australia, Vietnam, Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, China and Thailand etc. are participating. Legislators, top civil and police officers of the State Government and delegates and experts from different countries were also present the occasion.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh observed that the present generation must do something tangible regarding bamboo promotion and plantation if they really care about sustainable development and renewable resources of the world. In this regard, he lauded the World Bamboo Organization for initiating a global movement to bring the bamboo people together for promoting the use of bamboo - bamboo for food, fuel, fibre, building materials and a renewable resource with many applications.
Maintaining that the Bamboo Society of India must also open a Manipur Chapter for a Bamboo Mission in Manipur, he also sought the assistance of international business and trading concerns like DICMA Trade, Mexico in the global marketing of all bamboo products from Manipur.
The Chief Minister said, "We share the vision of the World Bamboo Organization and sincerely seek the assistance and cooperation of their institution and sister networks, in the matter of plantation, cultivation, processing of bamboo, marketing of bamboo products and technology upgradation and skill development".
The Chief Minister informed that India has 15.69 million hectares of land under bamboo, the second largest after China. But India's share in world bamboo trade of 1.5 billion dollars is insignificant. The North Eastern Region of India has only 28% of land under bamboo, while it has 66% of India’s bamboo stock. The North Eastern Region and Manipur is therefore the ‘Bamboo Region’ of India, N Biren observed.
Stating that bamboo has the potential of becoming the growth engine of North East India as it is the biggest supplier of bamboo in India, N Biren Singh said that there are already two bamboo based factories in the States of Tripura and Meghalaya. However an organized value chain, from the bamboo groves to the market, national and international, is yet to emerge. This is where institutions like INBAR India and Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Industries can play a vital role in the promotion of bamboo in North East India and Manipur, he observed.
Speaking at the occasion as the guest of honour, Manipur Textiles, Commerce and Industry Minister, Th Biswajit said that a bamboo based bio-CNG plant is planned to come up in the State as per the present Bio Fuel Policy of India to mitigate climate change and ensure 100% bamboo utilization. He also informed that the Government has drafted a separate policy for bamboo under the joint efforts of the Department of Textiles, Commerce and Industry and the Department of Forest and Environment. The draft policy is ready but the Government wants to add more constructive inputs from the workshop, he said.
Speaking at the occasion, Manipur Forest and Environment Minister Th. Shyamkumar said that Manipur is rich in bamboo resource, and it has immense potential for social and economic development. Since time immemorial, bamboo is an integral part of the lives of the people of Manipur and they have been using it in various practices. In fact, bamboo plays a very important role in the lives and culture of Manipur, he said while adding that bamboo is very essential for the economic development of the State. The Minister said that the State would be able to gain knowledge on advanced bamboo technologies from various experts coming from different countries during the workshop.
Konthoujam AC MLA and Working Committee Chairman of World Bamboo Workshop, Dr. Sapam Ranjan, World Bamboo Organisation (WBO) President Michel Abadie, WBO Executive Director Susanne Lucas, WBO National Co-ordinator Prof. Nirmala Chongtham, CEO of DICMA Trade (Mexico), Martin Motera and Chief Secretary Dr. J. Suresh Babu also graced the opening function as the dignitaries.
