New Delhi, April 9 (IANS) An ambitious and innovative four-year UN project that aims at boosting India’s role as a world leader in the cane and bamboo industry was launched here Wednesday. Mani Shankar Aiyar, union minister for development of northeastern region (Doner), launched the project in the presence of Kandeh Yumkella, director general, UN Industrial Development Organisation (Unido).

The project will be implemented by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), North Eastern Council (NEC), Unido, development commissioner (handicrafts) as well as coordinating agencies, according to a statement released by the UN agency.

The project, costing $2.3 million, will start May 2008. The donor contribution of India towards the project is $1.8 million, while Unido will contribute $196,000, the statement said.

India has one of the highest concentrations of bamboo in the world and it is a vital element in the economy of the northeastern region, comprising Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

It is a lifeline resource that generates jobs, and economic well being, while contributing to environmental enhancement and rural development.

Describing bamboo as a promising agro-commodity, Yumkella said the project would be an excellent opportunity to strengthen long-term partnership between Unido and India.

He said bamboo could be a major vehicle for rural livelihood development.

The Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) in Guwahati, Assam, would be developed as an international hub and service provider for the global cane and bamboo sector.

The project complements the strategies of the National Mission on Bamboo Applications and the North-Eastern Regional Bamboo Mission, the statement said.

The project aims to contribute to rural livelihoods by creating partnerships between cane and bamboo farmers and producers, extending supply chains from plantation management and pre-processing to industrial processing and marketing.

Unido has been involved in numerous bamboo projects in developing countries, the statement said.