In view of the increasing demand for traditional medicines and to give a boost to the herbal sector, a database on the important medicinal plants, their value-added products, related experts and industries will be set up soon as a joint collaboration between the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and India. IORA is an association of 2I countries, including India, around the Indian Ocean.
The IORA has seven dialogue partners which have identified six areas of cooperation including medicinal plants. The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) on Monday inked a pact with the Regional Center for Science and Technology Transfer (RCSTT) of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for designating lucknow-based Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP) as coordinating centre on medicinal plants.
The agreement was signed by Prof Anil Kumar Tripathi, Director CSIR-CIMAP and Dr A. Sedrpousan, Director, IORA-RCSTT. A senior official from the CSIR said that the IORA center at CSIR-CIMAP will establish a database on the important medicinal plants, their value added products, related experts and industries of the IORA member states and organize meetings and training programmes to promote trade, commerce and scientific exchanges to complement the strength and limitation of the member States.Speaking on the occasion, Dr Girish Sahni, Director General, CSIR talked about the strength of the CSIR in several areas of science and technology in which CSIR has developed expertise and contributed in solving hundreds of problems of people.
Dr. Nomvuyo Nokwe, Secretary General of IORA headquartered in Mauritius expressed the hope that the coordination center will promote cooperation in the area of traditional knowledge related to medicinal plants for the welfare of the people of IORA member States.
She also indicated that this will provide an opportunity for two important member states of IORA (India and Iran) to enhance cooperation between them. The Iranian side emphasized the historical importance of this initiative and expressed their happiness and optimism on this new initiative. This is a major development to boost the relationship between India and Iran.
Sanjay Panda, Joint Secretary (IOR), Union Ministry of External Affair emphasized the importance of this initiative and the role India plays in Indian Ocean region.
He said that in view of the importance India attaches to its role in IORA, the Ministry has committed it's support towards the establishment and operationalization of the proposed coordination center at CSIR-CIMAP, lucknow.
The annual herbal trade is estimated to be between US$ 62-120 million in the region.