Tripura bamboo industry to get facelift from China

Agartala, Apr 20 (UNI) The Nanjing Forestry University of China has shown keen interest in providing technological aid for developing the bamboo industry in Tripura.

Official sources said here today that though the final project approval was still awaited, the initial phase of discussions was going on satisfactorily with a meeting in this regard held at New Delhi recently.

Talking to UNI, state Forest and Rural Development Minister Jiten Choudhury said, ''The Nanjing Forestry University is willing to help Tripura in developing tiles of bamboo and if this initative is successful, it will be immensely beneficial for the state's economic development and make it self-sufficient.'' Mr Choudhury said the meeting held at New Delhi was attended from the Chinese side by Vice Chancellor of the Nanging University Prof Zhiang and Director of the Bamboo Engineering and Research Centre (BERC) Dr Munijie Guang.

The Tripura government was represented by Mr Choudury and Member and Technical Expert in the National Rain Fed Area Authority and Tripura Bamboo Mission Coordinator and Director of Industries Dr V K Bahuguna.

''It has been agreed in the meeting that bamboo specimens will be sent to BERC for testing and selection of machines,'' Mr Choudhury said.

The Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre will arrange for the transportation of the bamboo specimens to China and Tripura Forest Development Corporation will meet the cost of transportation.

Based on the reports of tests, the matter will progress further after the visit of the BERC to Agartala, the minister informed.

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