Report on Participation in the XII th General Conference of UNIDO held from
3 rd to 7 th December, 2007 in Vienna, Austria  

The Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre was a project under Cane and Bamboo Technological Upgradation and Networking Project which was initiated and funded by UNDP and implemented by UNIDO where DST was the Executing Body. The project was set up in the year 2000 and ended in March 2004. Thereafter, CBTC registered itself as a Society and is presently under funding from the North Eastern Council. However, UNIDO in the year 2006 conducted an Independent Evaluation under the Country Service Framework for India whereby CBTC was adjudged as the Best Project of UNIDO in India.

In recognition to CBTCs achievements under the tenure of UNIDO, the South Asia Regional Office of UNIDO invited CBTC to participate in the XII th Annual General Conference of UNIDO held in Vienna, Austria from 3 rd to 7 th December, 2007. CBTC was provided with a space of 18 sq. m. to showcase its achievements and display various products developed by the Centre. CBTC was focused under the Theme “Poverty Reduction through Productive Activities”.

The display booth of 18 sq. m. were decorated nicely with banners incorporating various subject matters such as, Bamboo as Green Gold, Bamboo for Rural Poverty Eradication and Livelihood Development and the like. A table was laid in the form of an island decorated with Bamboo Floor Mats and various other Handicraft based items. Similarly, Bamboo Floorings, Bamboo Mat Boards, Bamboo Dap Boards, etc. were displayed at appropriate places within the pavilion. Bamboo Blinds were also hanged to bring the actual effect and also Bamboo and Jute Bags and other such products were displayed. An India Business Exhibition was organised simultaneously by the Government of India in collaboration with the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) at the General Conference .

On 3 rd December, 2007, a host of dignitaries like DG, UNIDO, President, Sierra Leone, Dy. President, South Africa, Prime Minister, Guinea, Minister of Industry, Cote d’Ivoire, etc. visited and were highly impressed with the achievements of the Centre and also the diversified products made out of Bamboo. Ministers from Sierra Leone, Mexico, etc. requested CBTC to replicate such a Centre in their country, which was replicated in the Visitors Book. The Indian Delegates lead by Mr. Ajay Shankar, Secretary DIPP, Mr.S.K.Sharma, Indian Ambassador to Austria and UNIDO Rep along with other Indian officials visited the CBTC Stand. Thereafter, the pavilion of CBTC witnessed a lot of other visitors till the end of the Conference. As a token of love and remembrance, CBTC presented each and every visitor with a Momento made out of Bamboo Panels whereby Bamboo is the“Green Fuel for the Engine of Development”to enhance quality of life was engraved at the face with Laser Technology.

Mr. S.K. Sharma, Indian Ambassador to Austria, said, “This Exhibition displayed how a concerted entrepreneur approach to utilising natural products can translate into so many tangible products – which relate directly to society, to development and to environment. CBTC deserves hearty felicitation for their success and for the spirit of entrepreneurship promoted by them.”

In an official handout issued at the Conference, CBTC’s concept of ‘Bamboo Processing Zone’ was hailed as a major innovation. When put in practice, the initiative will be the first of its kind in the world.

CBTC, with UNIDO as implementing agency, is playing a key role in promoting natural resources such as cane and bamboo in India and transforming them from “poor man’s timber” into “green gold” to change lives. Since its inception in 2000, the Centre has become the focal point for information, technologies and networking in India’s cane and bamboo sector.

On the 3 rd December, 2007 a meeting was organized by DIPP along with the Sectoral Heads of UNIDO Projects in India. The meeting was also attended by Mr. N.N. Prasad, Joint Secretary, DIPP and Mr. I.H. Zhimomi, Counsellor Embassy of India. Mr. M.S. Dhakad, Director of DIPP and the Sectoral Heads of UNIDO who are implementing the Project in India, were also present. Mr. N.N. Prasad stressed the needs for the energy efficiency issues and Renewable Energy, cleaner technology and skilled development based programme which are the immediate needs for the country. He also suggested to have the cluster mapping where cluster project of UNIDO has been a grand success and also suggested to go for small and medium entrepreneurs which is on the cluster based approach. Mr. Philippe R. Scholtes, UNIDO Regional Director of South Asia gave a detailed power point presentation of UNIDO-INDIA Projects being currently implemented and also other projects which are in the pipelines. The CBTC Project also figured as one the projects in the pipeline. In this connection, Mr. N.N. Prasad acknowledged the performance rendered by CBTC and suggested CBTC Project should be taken on a priority basis by DIPP. He suggested CBTC to have close collaboration with NID for setting up of a Design Centre in CBTC as well. Mr. Juergen Hierold, Backing Stopping Officer of CBTC Project also gave inputs on the strategy being adopted in making CBTC IInd Phase Project which is being delayed for quite sometime.

Conclusion

The participation of CBTC in the 12 th General Conference was a huge success. The visitors were taken aback and were surprised to see such nice products made out of Bamboo which helps in the livelihood development. CBTC got the right platform to popularize Bamboo for the betterment of environment, employment generation and economic upliftment throughout the globe in general and the Bamboo growing countries in particular.