Northeast Bamboo Conclave Outlines Strategy for Green Growth & Bio-Economy
Policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators in Guwahati highlight bamboo’s role as “green gold” for livelihoods, clean energy, and sustainable industries.
Guwahati, Sept 19: The Northeast Bamboo Conclave 2025, organised on the occasion of World Bamboo Day, brought together policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to chalk out a strategic roadmap for a sustainable bamboo-driven economy in the region.
The event, hosted by the North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) with support from the North Eastern Council (NEC), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), and National Bamboo Mission (NBM), revolved around the theme “Promoting Investments, CSR, and Bio-Economy.”
Often called “green gold,” bamboo is deeply tied to the livelihoods and culture of the Northeast, which holds nearly two-thirds of India’s bamboo reserves. Experts emphasized its potential in green industries, sustainable construction, packaging, and biofuels. Assam Bio Ethanol Pvt. Ltd., India’s first bamboo-based bio-refinery inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was highlighted as a symbol of the region’s emerging energy transition.
NECBDC Managing Director M. C. Omi Ningshen underscored that bamboo can be the cornerstone of India’s bio-economy if traditional practices are integrated with modern technology and market strategies. He called for stronger collaboration between government, PSUs, and private enterprises to drive innovation, investments, and scalable market linkages.
Technical sessions covered MSME promotion, export linkages, and sustainable value chains, with participation from Amazon, Bamboostan, and Assam State Bamboo Mission. Local success stories showcased bamboo’s growing role in livelihoods and green growth.
Several MoUs were signed, including with Numaligarh Refinery Limited and SELCO Foundation for CSR-led initiatives, and with IIT Guwahati and NID Ahmedabad for design and research partnerships. NECBDC also announced a new pact with the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI) to develop indigenous bamboo processing machinery.
The conclave concluded with a high-level panel featuring NEC, NEHHDC, FICCI, SIDBI, and NID, which laid out a vision of a “Viksit Bamboo Sector for a Viksit Northeast by 2047.” The roadmap reaffirmed the Northeast’s central role in India’s bamboo strategy, focused on sustainability, job creation, and regional development.
