CM in Belgium to attend World Bamboo Congress
From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: Several countries including South Korea have expressed keen interest in investing in bamboo technology in Meghalaya which was described as the ‘wonder grass’ by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma at the ongoing World Bamboo Congress in Belgium.
During the interaction, many entrepreneurs and experts in bamboo expressed their interest to visit the State and explore the possibility of investing their technological knowledge and resources. The South Korean delegation led by the Mayor of Damyang even invited the Chief Minister to his country to explore the technological tie-up for bamboo end-products, official sources said on Friday.
A high-level delegation from the government of Meghalaya, led by Dr Sangma, including Minister of Forest and Environment Prestone Tynsong, are attending the six-day Congress.
Bamboo experts and bamboo enthusiasts from across Asia, Europe, Africa and North and South America are attending the Congress sharing their knowledge and ideas on bamboo development and utilization.
Dr Sangma, who was the chief guest, in his address at the meet, invited the investors and scientific community to the State to partner with the people of Meghalaya and explore investment opportunities in the bamboo sector and help the State in conducting scientific studies in the field of bamboo utilization and development.
The Chief Minister called bamboo the ‘wonder grass’ which would improve the livelihood of the people with the available technological interventions and investments.
Dr Sangma said that bamboo has traditionally been an integral part of the life of the people of the North Eastern Region of India from birth till death. He noted that bamboo cultivation is presently not seen as a profitable venture as compared to other cash crops hence farmers may even destroy bamboo to switch over to other more remunerative crops.
He emphasized on the need for making bamboo cultivation more remunerative through technological intervention for value addition and market support. Value addition to bamboo in the State will create employment opportunities and improve the livelihood of the people, he observed.
The Chief Minister was of the opinion that diverse bamboo products developed through technology adoptions in the State should meet the quality standards prescribed by EU in order to tap the market in Europe. He said that nanotechnology is being used to segregate bamboo fibres to make superior quality fabrics, which can be an alternative to cotton fabrics.
He informed that the Meghalaya Government has launched nine missions under the Integrated Basin Development Project under which bamboo, as one of the renewable resources, will play an important role in creating more opportunities for improving the livelihood of the people.
Several eminent scientists and entrepreneurs are delivering lectures on a whole range of subjects covering bamboo culture, technology and uses, like bamboo biology and physiology, bamboo treatment, bamboo as a construction material, bamboo tissue culture, bamboo-based industries, bamboo for transportation industry and use of bamboo for waste water treatment.
The Investment Meet and Awareness Programme, chaired by Prof Walter Liese, an eminent bamboo scientist and co-chaired by Dr Victor Brias from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) was organized by the South Asian Bamboo Foundation, headed by Kamesh Salam. This investment meet was organized to create awareness about bamboo resources in South Asia and South East Asia in order to attract investment in the bamboo sector in the region.
This investment meet was attended by Arif Havas Oegroseno, Ambassador of Indonesia to Belgium, Luxemburg and the European Union, Hyung-sik
Choi, Mayor of Damyang in South Korea, Dr Cooje, Director General of International Network for Bamboo and Rattan and bamboo entrepreneurs from across the world.
From Meghalaya the meet was attended by Additional Chief Secretary PBO Warjri, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (T) TTC Marak and Divisional Forest Officer, Silvi-culture Division Dr Manjunatha C.
The World Bamboo Congress is being held for the first time in Europe, where a major interest in bamboo and its applications is emerging.