The government of China is to support Africa to utilize its rich bamboo resource, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia said on the Africa Bamboo workshop held on Friday 15 March and organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) to discuss bamboo development in the continent.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Ambassador Xie Xiaoyan said that the Chinese government will provide continued assistance to Africa in the development of its bamboo industry in many aspects.

The Ambassador said China would support in the fields of developing bamboo industry strategy and planning, improving industry chain, exploring market, capacity building, and technical assistance.

“There is a great potential in the development of bamboo industry in Africa with bright prospect. In 2012 alone, the production value of the Chinese bamboo industry was 16 billion USD. Africa could similarly benefit more from its rich bamboo resources,” the Ambassador said.

China is keen to cooperate with the government of Ethiopia and other International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) member countries in the process of the overall development of bamboo industry, he added.

Agriculture State Minister Mitiku Kassa on his part said the Ethiopian government is working to transform the bamboo industry from traditional to modern way of cultivation, production and usage. The private sector and emerging Micro and Scale Enterprises (MSEs) are contributing to the effort to spur the industry, the State Minister told workshop participants.

Ethiopia has presented its Bamboo Sector Strategy Framework (BASSF) to the workshop. The Netherlands-based private company Mosso International BV has also presented a research on the existing demand for bamboo products in the European market and lessons Africa could learn from its experiences.

Source: Walta