Mizoram to export first batch of bamboos by Oct

Aizawl, Feb 26 (UNI) Mizoram government has signed MoUs with various Bangladeshi companies for export of bamboo.

Talking to UNI,state Industries Joint Director G Malsawmdawngliana said Bangladesh paper mills had expressed willingness to purchase one lakh metric tonnes of bamboo from Mizoram.

''Karnaphuli, Chittagong and Chatak paper mills have already approached us to supply more than one lakh MT bamboo chips on a regular basis,'' he said.

NITOL Niloy Group, Dhaka, had recently acquired Chatak paper mill and signed an MoU with a Mizoram government agency for importing 300 MT raw bamboo chips on regular basis, he informed.

This MOU was likely to be followed up by a commercial deal shortly as the same group was scheduled to take delivery of the first batch of bamboos by October, the Joint Director said, adding the bamboos would be delivered through Sutarkandi Land Customs Station(LCS) near Karimganj in Assam.

He also pointed out Mizoram possesses 14 per cent of the total national bamboo wealth and the state's annual surplus bamboo was estimated by Tata Energy Research Institute to be around 32 million MT per annum.

The export of bamboo would be further enhanced once LCS at Tlabung was activated, he added.

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