North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council

Bamboo Festa 2025 in Ube City, Japan
On November 15, 2025, the JICA-funded Bamboo Use Promotion Project participated in Bamboo Festa held in Ube City, Japan, a key platform for project outreach and bamboo product exhibition. Organized by Ube City and curated by Ethical Bamboo Co., Ltd., the event was held at Take Labo and Act Village Ono.

The project showcased innovative bamboo products, including two specialized bamboo baskets woven at two project-supported clusters, along with student-designed works—Bambloom (a single-flower vase) and the Bezera bamboo knife. The team also carried out PR activities through banners and pamphlets to highlight the project’s mission and its contribution to sustainable development.

A major highlight was the participation of Mr. Pariksh*t, CEO of Kraftinn, who exhibited traditional bamboo handicrafts from Northeast India, further strengthening India–Japan market linkages.

With over 50 vendors and more than 3,000 visitors, the festival received strong appreciation for the exhibited products, providing a clear proof of concept for their viability in the Japanese market.
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India
North Eastern Council
Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre

JICA Officials Visit Assam!

On November 13, officials from JICA Headquarters (Mr. Koide, Deputy Director) and the JICA India Office (Mr. Wakamatsu, Senior Representative, and Ms. Ito, Representative) visited our Project sites.

Guided by Mr. M.C. Omi Ningshen, IRS, Managing Director of NECBDC, the group visited one of the Project’s target clusters in Bezera, Assam. They observed the production of bamboo baskets supported by the Project (Bezera basket), a chick basket, and bamboo mats for export to Japan, as well as the production process in cluster members' homes.

This was a great opportunity for the JICA officials, who are funding this Project, to understand the results and achievements of the Project activities.

The Project continued to support the activities, including product development with target cluster members, until the project concluded in January 2026!
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India
North Eastern Council
Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre

3rd Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) Meeting Held!

The 3rd and final Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting for the “Bamboo Use Promotion Project in the North Eastern Region” was held on November 12, 2025. The meeting witnessed the participation of key stakeholders including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), JICA Expert Team (JET), National Bamboo Mission (NBM), and the North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC).

The JCC served as an important platform to review the overall implementation of the Project. Detailed discussions were held on the project outcomes and challenges, the way forward, and the sustainability of interventions beyond the project period. An overview of the Project Design Matrix (PDM) was also presented, highlighting the key indicators, milestones, and achievements accomplished during the project tenure.

The meeting marked a significant milestone in the Project’s journey, reaffirming the collective commitment of all stakeholders towards promoting sustainable bamboo-based livelihoods and market-oriented development in the North Eastern Region.
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India
North Eastern Council
Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre

A milestone moment for the bamboo sector of the North Eastern Region.

On 25 January 2026, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region and Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, launched two landmark bamboo projects worth ₹82.5 crore in Guwahati. The programme also witnessed the signing of three MoUs with Amazon, Flipkart, and All Time Plastics, strengthening market access, digital integration, and industrial development in the bamboo sector.

The initiatives aim to strengthen traditional bamboo artisan clusters and promote engineered bamboo products through industry partnerships and export facilitation. From artisans to enterprises, bamboo from the North East is stepping into a new growth story.

On the occasion of the 77th Republic Day, Shri M.C. Omi Ningshen, Managing Director, North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC), unfurled the tricolour at the NECBDC campus in Burnihat, Guwahati, in the presence of the organization’s dedicated staff and officers.

Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India
North Eastern Council
Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre

Inviting applications for Batch II and Batch III of the Bamboo Coiled Product Manufacturing Training Programme under the CSR initiative of Numaligarh Refinery Limited

Endline Survey Conducted Under the Bamboo Use Promotion Project from 7th to 8th November, 2025.

As the Bamboo Use Promotion Project approaches its conclusion in January 2026, an endline survey was successfully conducted across the project clusters in Assam and Meghalaya.

The survey aimed to assess the achievements, progress, and overall impact of the project, while also capturing valuable feedback from the artisans who were trained and supported throughout the implementation period. Structured questionnaires were filled out by the targeted artisans from both clusters to document changes in skills, livelihoods, and market exposure.

In addition, master trainers were personally interviewed, providing deeper insights into the project’s outcomes and clearly highlighting the success stories and transformative impact of the initiative.

Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India
North Eastern Council
Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre

The Bamboo Use Promotion Project, funded by JICA, successfully participated in the IHGF EPCH Delhi Fair held from 13th to 17th October 2025 at India Expo Mart Ltd. (IEML), Greater Noida.
At the fair, the project showcased a range of innovative and eco-friendly bamboo products developed under the initiative and handcrafted by the project target artisans /clusters from Assam and Meghalaya. The exhibition received encouraging responses from buyers and visitors, highlighting the quality, design, and sustainability of the products.

This participation has opened up strong possibilities for bulk orders in the future, creating opportunities for enhanced market linkages and sustainable livelihoods for the cluster artisans.
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India
North Eastern Council

The Skill Development Training on Bamboo Coiled Product Manufacturing for Batch I was formally inaugurated on 5th January at the NECBDC Campus, Burnihat. The programme aims to strengthen skills and promote sustainable livelihood opportunities in the bamboo sector under the CSR initiative of Numaligarh Refinery Limited.

NECBDC is pleased to share that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), Golaghat, Assam, on 15 December 2025.

This collaboration takes forward the discussions and commitments made during the North East Bamboo Conclave 2025 held in Guwahati, Radisson Blu, translating them into a concrete initiative on the ground. The MoU focuses on skill development and market linkage through the production of bamboo-based coiled products under NRL’s CSR programme.

Through this partnership, NECBDC aims to strengthen artisan capacities, promote value addition in bamboo products, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities across the North East.
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India
North Eastern Council
Numaligarh Refinery Limited

The 3rd Stakeholders Meeting under the JICA Funded Project on Bamboo Use Promotion in the North Eastern Region (NER) was successfully held on 15th October.

The meeting aimed to strengthen networking among key organizations involved in the bamboo industry across NER and to share updates on the NER Bamboo Portal and newly developed E-contents on financial management and marketing under the Project. Participants included bamboo producers, buyers, and exporters, who actively exchanged ideas to enhance the sector’s growth and collaboration.

Through the stakeholder meetings held three times in a row, the participants realized the importance of having such opportunity to discuss common issues and connect each other. Hence, the Managing Director, NECBDC, proposed that such meetings will continue to be organized twice a year even after the Project’s completion. He also emphasized the importance of collective collaboration to further improve the NER Bamboo Portal, making it a more effective platform for both producers and buyers.
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India
North Eastern Council
Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre

An Exchange Seminar on Activated Carbon Utilization was held on 24th September at the NECBDC premises under the Bamboo Use Promotion Project in NER, in collaboration with NBM and funded by JICA.

The session was led by Prof. Toshiki Tsubota from Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan, who primarily explained chemical activation for carbon from bamboo and its applications in Japan. Prof. Vaibhav V. Goud from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati shared the results of his research on its steam activation and his collaboration with industries, highlighting its application in India. The participants from government, including NBM, State Bamboo Missions, private companies, and academia shared their valuable insights, experiments, and innovations on the preparation and applications of bamboo-based activated carbon technology in India.

The seminar brought together participants and stakeholders from across the bamboo sector, fostering knowledge exchange and exploring opportunities for applying new technologies to promote sustainable bamboo utilization in the North Eastern Region.
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India
North Eastern Council
Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre