Bamboo businesses in talks with government officials for international market access

Bamboo industry is in talks with governmental departments to gain international market, said bamboo expert U Kyaw Win.

They held talks with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and the Ministry of Commerce last month.

“Last month, we held a workshop with the Forestry Department on increasing bamboo products, our requirements, international market access and difficulties. The department held a meeting to relax some regulations. We also had a meeting with the Ministry of Commerce a few days ago and discussed increasing export items and introducing bamboo products in China and India via our economic counsellors and global exhibitions,” he said.

One of the matters discussed was to improve market access and good prices for traditional dried bamboo shoots in the rural areas.

“There are rural people who are producing dried bamboo shoots in their own traditional ways. 10 viss of raw produces only one viss of dried shoot after sun-drying. They live in very remote areas. They can send them to us in the open season. The price will be higher. We submitted a proposal for these products to gain an international market access, ” he said.

Such discussions have created good opportunities, and if bamboo products can be exported to the international market, it will benefit not only bamboo entrepreneurs but also all those involved in bamboo-related businesses, he said. – MT/ZN