TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Embassy in Suva initiated a seminar on "Potential of Sustainable Bamboo Product Manufacturing Industry in Fiji" on March 13, 2024, according to the Indonesian embassy.

"The Indonesian government seeks to strengthen cooperation with the Government of Fiji and relevant stakeholders in the SME industry sector in Fiji, particularly in the sustainable bamboo industry," stated the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia H.E. Dupito D. Simamora at the opening seminar.

"Indonesia is also ready to provide capacity-building support to the Government and relevant stakeholders, especially in identifying the needs and challenges of the bamboo industry in Fiji," Ambassador Simamora further emphasized.

As reported from kemlu.go.id, the seminar featured two bamboo experts from Indonesia: Marzuni from Rosse Bambu in Sleman and Dr. Sukma Surya Kusumah representing the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) as speakers. Meanwhile, the speakers from Fiji were Dr. Paul Ade Iji and Dr. Shipra Shah from the Fiji National University. In addition to participants from the bamboo industry SMEs in Fiji, the seminar was also attended by representatives from the Ministries in Fiji and Indonesia (virtually), as well as representatives from the Fiji National University.

Prior to the seminar, the two bamboo experts from Indonesia had the opportunity to visit several bamboo forests in the villages of Sote (Tailevu province) and Vunidawa (Naitasiri province) accompanied by representatives from the Fijian Government, to identify the species or varieties available in each village, as well as identify products suitable for those bamboo species.

Various issues emerged during the seminar, including the importance of designing marketing strategies and improving the quality and accessibility of Fiji's bamboo products to the open markets, as well as commitment to further explore research cooperation in the bamboo sector between Indonesia and Fiji; holding capacity-building training; and designating Sote and Vunidawa as model bamboo villages for Fiji.

Seminar participants, including the leaders from various villages in Naitasiri, expressed sincere appreciation (vinaka vakalevu) to the Indonesian Embassy in Suva for initiating capacity-building training for bamboo product development. Appreciation was also expressed by the representatives from the Ministries in Fiji, emphasizing hopes for increased cooperation in the industrial sector, including the bamboo industry, between the two countries.

TEMPO.CO | The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Suva

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