This archive report was first published on 7 September 2019.
On September 3-4, 2019, a regional bamboo policy and strategy workshop was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to enhance cooperation and utilization of untapped bamboo resources among the three countries.
The workshop, organized by the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR), brought together national policy makers, government officials, experts, and entrepreneurs to discuss policies, strategies, and best practices in place in the three countries.
According to Durai Jayaraman, South-South Knowledge Transfer Strategies Project Manager at INBAR, the triangular cooperation aims to promote mutual understanding, enhance cooperation, and address challenges and barriers for the development of the bamboo sector.
With Ethiopia holding the largest bamboo resource, accounting for 88 percent, followed by Kenya with 8 percent and Uganda with 4 percent, the country has over 1.4 million hectares of land covered with bamboo.
Kebede Yimam, Ethiopian Environment, Forest and Climate Change Deputy Commissioner, emphasized that if fully utilized, the bamboo sector will boost green economy development, Foreign Direct Investment, and job creation for the growing population of the country.
Paul Ongugo, the Kenyan Forestry Research Institute Science Leader, highlighted the importance of bamboo as part of Kenya's "big four" agenda, addressing manufacturing expansion, affordable housing, health facilities, food and nutrition security issues.
