The webinar, organised by the Press Information Bureau-Guwahati, was attended by experts from the industry fraternity, including organisations of the ministries of Tribal Affairs, Tourism, Development of North Eastern Region, Culture and Textiles along with academicians.

The DoNER Ministry said in a release that experts deliberated on the market potential of eco-friendly products and its awareness from the socio-economic, cultural, academic and policy perspective.

Speaking on the Central initiatives on ‘Vocal For Local’ for a wide assortment of textile, pottery, culinary and hospitality products and the potentiality of the bamboo and allied sectors, Manoj K Das, managing director, North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd, Guwahati said that domestically and internationally the market of bamboo and its allied sector products are evolving and has huge potential.

Dr Abhinav Kant, Incharge, Bamboo and Cane Development Institute, Ministry of Textile, Agartala said that efficacy of the bamboo in Assam is not only in socio-economic development but also in trade and commerce and employment for the youth. He said that bamboo products are environment friendly and have utility in multiple sectors be it in construction, building, tourism, hospitality, energy, medicinal, environmental and Small and Medium Enterprises. He said that bamboo has tremendous potential for employment of youth.

Hemanta Rabha, Project Head, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, Guwahati and National Youth Awardee(2003) and UNESCO General Conference Youth Forum Attendee in Paris(2003) said awareness initiatives such as ‘Vocal for Local’ products is an opportunity to talk about talent and advantages of tribal products, which are having the efficacy of biodiversity and eco-tourism. He said it helps in economic growth and development of a region and becomes a WIN-WIN scenario for all in the value-added process of market development.

Enlisting the provisos of the Indian Constitution, Abdur Rahman Mallick, Advocate Delhi High Court lauded PIB for this informative and knowledge webinar and said that environment-friendly bamboo products are of cultural prominence in many villages of Assam. The cultural ethos of place finds relevance in Bamboo and Cane Products, as in Jaapi during Bihu dance and celebration, Bamboo and Cane furniture and flower vessels.

Along with the experts and students, eminent journalists and other government senior officials from Doordarshan Guwahati, Regional Outreach Bureau, Guwahati, All India Radio Guwahati were also present on the occasion.