In a bid to promote international market for bamboo produced in Jharkhand, the State Government is all set to organise a two day Bamboo Artisans Conclave 2019 on September 18 and 19.
The conclave, to be organised in Dumka, is likely to witness international buyers from more than half a dozen countries like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Norway, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. It is likely that representatives various member countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will also visit the conclave to be a part of the bamboo products making training. Also, representatives of IKEA, an international furniture brand from Sweden, which is already a buyer of Bamboo from Jharkhand will also be participating in the conclave.
Bankers and micro finance companies are also to participate in the event. The programme is likely to be inaugurated by Union Minister of rural development Narendra Singh Tomar, a letter of invitation for which has been sent to him by Chief Minister Raghubar Das.
With Jharkhand producing 2500 million tonnes of bamboo annually, the State Government plans to create not just national but international market for bamboo products made here. The conclave is being organised by Mukhyamantri Laghu Evam Kutir Udyog Vikas Board and coincides with International Bamboo Day observed on September 18. .
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Industry Secretary K Ravi Kumar said, “The conclave is focused to provide platform for farmers, artisans, bamboo based entrepreneurs and prospective investors in the plantation processing and value addition sector of bamboo.”
The Secretary informed that Bamboo has always been synonymous with Jharkhand due to its omnipresence across State and plays vital roles in day to day lives of tribal populace of Jharkhand.
“Around 10,000 artisans of Bamboo from across the State will participate in the event to learn and showcase their products,” Kumar said.
The secretary said that the main objective of the conclave is to create job opportunities of local youth and to promote traditional craftsmanship of local artisans with a blend of modern art and technology.
“It is a vision of our Chief Minister to promote our local art with the right mix of modern technique which will generate a livelihood opportunity for the tribal population and double their income. The event will comprise of inaugural session, seminars, roundtable meetings, B2B and B2G meetings,” Ravi Kumar said.
The event is set to facilitate the best bamboo artisans in traditional as well as modern craftsmanship and the first three artisans in these categories will be awarded with cash prize.
There is a target to distribute 50,000 artisan cards through office of DC handicrafts and more than 2700 selected artisans will also be provided bamboo tool kits.
The secretary informed that apart from making domestic and handicraft products from bamboo, the government now plans to use it for industrial purposes like packaging material and bio mass energy for other leading sectors.
The conclave will also have stalls of food items prepared by bamboo like pickles and utensils and cutlery made of bamboo.
The website for the event bamboo.jharkhand.gov.in was also launched on Wednesday.