Eco-friendly Bamboo and Local products of Assam have tremendous potential to be Game Changer for Trade and Commerce, experts opined in a Webinar organised by Press Information Bureau, Guwahati on the topic 'Leveraging the Natural and Bio-Diversity- Core Competence of Bamboo and Allied Sector in Assam for Economic Development’ here today. Experts from Industry fraternity including organisations of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Textiles along with academicians deliberated and discussed about the market potential of eco-friendly products and its awareness from socio-economic, cultural, academic and policy perspective.

Talking about Central Government awareness initiatives on ‘Vocal For Local’ for wide assortment of textile, pottery, culinary and hospitality products and the potentiality of the bamboo and allied sectors, Shri Manoj K Das, Managing Director, North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd., Guwahati said that domestically and internationally the market of bamboo and its allied sector products are evolving and has huge potential.

The Galaxy of dignitaries in the discussion, which included Dr. Abhinav Kant, Incharge, Bamboo and Cane Development Institute, Ministry of Textile, Agartala said that efficacy of the bamboo in Assam is not only in socio-economic development, but also in trade and commerce and employment for the youth. He said that bamboo products are environment friendly and has utility in multiple sectors be it in construction, building, tourism, hospitality, energy, medicinal, environmental and Small and Medium Enterprises. He said that bamboo has tremendous potential for employment of youth.

Shri Hemanta Rabha, Project Head, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, Guwahati and National Youth Awardee(2003) and UNESCO General Conference Youth Forum Attendee in Paris(2003) said awareness initiatives such as ‘Vocal for Local’ products is an opportunity to talk about talent and advantages of tribal products, which are having the efficacy of bio-diversity and eco-tourism. He said it helps in economic growth and development of a region and becomes a WIN-WIN scenario for all in the value-added process of market development.

Shri Chandan Pachani, another Senior officer, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, Guwahati said that the efficacy of technology and market potentiality of bamboo and its allied sector is another value add-on for the cultural and socio-economic development.

Shri Dilip Borah, Entrepreneur, Bamboo sector said that Bamboo has the advantage of being environment friendly, so its marketability in international market is dynamically accentuating with its competing products. He said that entrepreneurial potential of bamboo and its allied sector is also huge, be it in hospitality, culinary, toys, energy sector, Agarbatti market, among others.

Enlisting the provisos of the Indian Constitution, Abdur Rahman Mallick, Advocate Delhi High Court lauded PIB for this informative and knowledge webinar and said that environment friendly bamboo products are of cultural prominence in many villages of Assam. The cultural ethos of place finds relevance in Bamboo and Cane Products, as in Jaapi during Bihu dance and celebration, Bamboo and Cane furniture and flower vessels.

The informative and knowledge webinar was planned and coordinated by Shri Samrat Bandyopadhyay, Joint Director (M & C), PIB, Guwahati. Senior officers of PIB were present in webinar. Shri Arijit Chakravorty, Assistant Director, Regional Outreach Bureau, Guwahati welcomed the experts as the webinar delved into details on the various aspects of the topic such as market potential, socio-economic, growth and development, among others. The interactive Webinar has enthusiastic participation of students, academicians and industrial fraternity of Assam as they said that this information cum knowledge Webinar would help them in informed decision making and to celebrate the culture of other States.

Along with students, eminent journalists and other government senior officials from Doordarshan Guwahati, Regional Outreach Bureau, Guwahati, All India Radio Guwahati were also present on the occasion.

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