Bhubaneswar, 09 January (H.S.):The National Bamboo Conclave 2026 was inaugurated on Frday at Hotel Crystal Crown in Patia, highlighting Odisha’s push to position bamboo as a key pillar of the state’s green and rural economy. The one-day conclave was organised by the One Future Foundation and saw participation from over 200 policymakers, industry experts, entrepreneurs and sustainability professionals from across the country.

Inaugurating the event, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Shri Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia said the conclave was a collective initiative to give concrete direction to Odisha’s bamboo sector. He expressed confidence that knowledge-sharing and collaboration among stakeholders would help unlock bamboo’s potential for generating sustainable livelihoods and strengthening the rural economy.

The minister also announced the launch of www.odishabamboohaat.com, a dedicated online platform aimed at expanding market access for bamboo artisans and promoting digital sales of bamboo-based products.

The conclave focused on enhancing awareness of bamboo’s diverse applications and its role in achieving sustainable development goals. Technical sessions addressed policy frameworks, engineered bamboo technologies and strategies to strengthen the bamboo supply and value chain.

The event served as an important networking platform, fostering collaboration among government agencies, industry players and civil society organisations to build a robust bamboo ecosystem in Odisha.

Prominent attendees included Shri Guru Prasad Mishra, Advisor to One Future Foundation; Shri Sarada Prasad Panda, Chief Coordinator of the conclave; Dr Rebecca Reubens, World Bamboo Ambassador and sustainable design expert; Shri Karthick V, Project Director, Odisha Bamboo Development Agency; and Shri Sudhakar Pahi of Bharateeyam Trust, the co-organiser of the event.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda