Meeting on Bamboo Sector Development in Northeast (NE) India is held in Delhi by Indian Chamber of Commerce

New Delhi: A high-level delegation from the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) met with officials from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), marking a significant advancement for the bamboo sector in Northeast India. Secretary Mr. Chanchal Kumar led the meeting, which centered on ways to promote sustainable development and economic growth within the bamboo industry in the region.

The ICC team consisted of well-known individuals like Mr. Sarat Kumar Jain, who is the Chairman of ICC Assam & Meghalaya State Council, and Mr. Manoj Kumar Agarwala, who serves as the Chairman of ICC NER Agriculture, Horticulture & Food Processing Committee. They provided a document detailing important suggestions for enhancing the National Bamboo Mission, crucial for progressing the sector.

Conversations focused on amending the regulatory structure and implementing a consistent policy throughout the eight northeastern states. The ICC highlighted the importance of private investment, creating value-added products for global markets, and marketing bamboo items as eco-friendly substitutes for plastic. Additionally, they emphasized the significance of advancing skills and creating a specialized Bamboo research and development center.

The Ministry of DoNER agreed to the ICC's joint proposal for a unified bamboo policy and intends to conduct awareness workshops in the entire area. Furthermore, there is a scheduled mega Bamboo Summit in February 2025 intended to advance these efforts.

Mr. Chanchal Kumar commended the ICC for its role in fostering economic growth in Northeast India for the last twenty years. Both the ministry and ICC are dedicated to establishing the bamboo sector as a crucial aspect of socio-economic growth, guaranteeing that advantages reach communities while encouraging creativity and sustainability.