Report on Participation in the XIIth General Conference of UNIDO held from
3rd to 7th 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 XIIth Annual General Conference of UNIDO held in Vienna , Austria from 3rd to 7th 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”.

Display Booth allotted to CBTC in Vienna International Centre

The Display Booth of CBTC in Vienna International Centre

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 Handicraftbased 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 3rd 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.

 

Indian Ambassador to Austria and others
Economic Minister, Mexico
D.G., UNIDO with heads of Sierra Leone

 

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, played 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.

 

   
Secy, DIPP & others

On the 3rd 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 12th 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.

  • UNIDO‘s commitment to promote CBTC in the global forum.

  • UNIDIO can help to recognize CBTC as the centre for promotion of cane and bamboo for technology transfer and HRD to promote bamboo under South South Co operation of UNIDO.

  • Most of the Key leaders and delegates from Africa were keen to seek the help of CBTC for promoting bamboo technology in their countries.

  • CBTC can assist the UNIDO’s bamboo projects in Africa, East Timor, Mexico etc.

  • UNIDO’s association and technical assistance to CBTC will help India’s National Bamboo Mission which is being mostly implemented in North East India.

  • UNIDO’s intervention under the second phase of CBTC project will be a milestone for NER and the country in particular where bamboo has been recognised as a key job generating commodity.

 

 

:: VISITORS COMMENTS DURING XIIth  ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE OF UNIDO ::

This Exhibition displays how a concerted entrepreneur approach to utilizing natural products can translate into so many tangible products – which relate directly to society, to development and to environment. CBTC deserves hearty felicitations for their success and here’s wishing them success in every turn in every sphere. May your enterprise grow and grow.
S.K. Sharma
Ambassador of India to Austria

 

Kamesh, I will engage you when I return to Free Town to replicate in Sierra Leone. We have a lot of Bamboo in raw form in our country. Congratulations & God Bless
Minister of Energy & Power

 

Dear Kamesh,
It is a pleasure to be have at your exhibition. This is excellent. Help me to set up a similar centre in Nairobi for East Africa. I would provide you and your camp with all necessary support
Best regards,
Alexander Varghese
UNIDO – Representative for Kenya
Nairobi – Kenya

 

The products bear testimony to a unique blend of visions and actions translating comparative advantages with competitiveness

Jebamalai Vinanchivarachi
Principal Adviser to DG, UNIDO

 

Looking forward to working with in developing the bamboo industry in Mexico. We hope to be good partners.

Dr. Luz Mariadela
Head of the Unit for Economic Moral Relations & International Cooperation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs – MEXICO

 

Wonderful use of a natural resource in large quantities in Sierra Leone. Please join us in Sierra Leone for this

Ms. Amah Marie Tehoua
Minister of Trade and Industry, Cote d’ Ivoire


 

NAMES OF OFFICERS ATTENDING CBTC STALL AT XIITH ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE OF UNIDO

  1. DR. CHEICK DIARRA

Chairman, Microsoft Africa

  1. H.E.    MRS. TAOUS FEROUKHI

Ambassador and Permanent Representative,
People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria

  1. MR. KANDEH K. YUMKELLA

Director-General, UNIDO

  1. H.E.      MR. ERNEST BAI KOROMA

President, Sierra Leone

  1. H.E.      MS. PHUMZILE MLAMBO-NGCUKA

DeputyPresident, South Africa

  1. H.E.     MR. LANSANA KOUYATE

Prime Minister, Guinea

  1. H.E.      MR. TERTIUS ZONGO

Prime Minister. Burkina Faso

  1. H.S.      MS. KING AKERLELE

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Liberia

  1. H.S.      MS. AMAH MARIE TEHOUA

Minister of Industry, Cote d’Ivoire

  1. MS. REGINA AMADI-NJOKU

Director, Regional Office for Africa, International Labour Organization

  1. MR. MOHAMED BEAVOGUI

Director of Africa, International Fund for Agricultural Development

  1. MR. ABRAHAM BOURE

Secretary-General, ManoRiver Union Secretariat

  1. MS. MBARANGA GASARABWE

UN President Coordinator for Guinea

  1. MS. LALLA BEN BARKA

Deputy Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

  1. MS. HADJA SARAN DARABA KABA

Former MinisterManoRiver Union Women’s Peace Network

  1. MR. DAVID WOOLLCOMBE

President, Peace Child International

  1. H.S. MR. ZELJKO STURANOVIC

Prime Minister of Montenegro

  1. H.S. MR. FEDRICK TLUWAN SUMAYE

Prime Minister of Tanzania

  1. H.S. MS.  PATRICIA ESPINOSA

Minister for  Foreign Affairs, Mexico