‘Bamboo Diplomacy’: Role of India’s Northeast in Strengthening India-Vietnam Ties

Keywords: India’s Northeast, Vietnam, Bamboo diplomacy, Bamboo-based industry, People-to-People ties

Date:27th June, 2023

In 2016, the General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, coined the term ‘Bamboo diplomacy’ as the country’s guiding principle of its foreign policy to ‘maintain peace by using diplomacy, preventing conflicting and fostering international cooperation in the constantly changing world order.’ As bamboo represents resilience, flexibility and strength, bamboo diplomacy aims to display ‘pragmatism and independence in the foreign policy realm.’

Bamboo is an integral part of Vietnamese culture and is inseparable from the daily lives of its people. It symbolises the spirit of unity as bamboo grows in groups. Vietnamese people in rural areas depend on bamboo for practically everything from food to tools. It is also a representation of ‘prosperity, love, happiness and fortune for the people of Vietnam’.

On the economic front, the bamboo industry in Vietnam contributes to economic development as it is used in the paper industry, making diesel fuel to run machines, constructing houses, bridges and musical instruments. In 2017, the sector added USD 3 billion to the country’s economy. The EU and US are the two main export markets for Vietnam’s bamboo products.

India-Vietnam bilateral relations have been deepening over the years and the two countries maintain good rapport in many regional forums such as the Association of South East Asia (ASEAN), East Asia Summit (EAS), Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) and Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Vietnam is India’s fourth largest partner amongst ASEAN and India’s largest export destination. Both countries’ bilateral trade has increased from $200 million in 2000 to $14.14 billion in 2021-2022. There has been a 34 percent increase in India’s exports to Vietnam and a 21 percent increase in India’s imports from Vietnam in recent years.

Vietnam’s bamboo diplomacy provides an opportunity for India’s Northeast Region (NER) to play a catalyzing role in strengthening India-Vietnam bilateral relations. India can leverage this platform to build people-to-people ties and expand markets to generate incomes for both countries. People of the NER share many common practices with Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations including the usage of bamboo.

Even as India is the second largest bamboo-growing country in the world, its net import on bamboo and its products are more than its export despite the potential which is estimated to be worth Rs 30,000 crore. It is high time to harness and develop the bamboo industry and take it to the next level that will generate employment in rural areas, help alleviate poverty and contribute to economic growth.  

In this context, the NER has a huge potential with about 66 percent of India’s growing stock of bamboo in the region. Bamboo, known as a ‘poor man’s timber’ and ‘green gold’, is essential for the people of NER in their socio-cultural-economic growth. With the abundant availability of bamboo, people use it for various purposes including material for construction of houses, cottage industry, agricultural tools and food in the tribal region. In recent years, efforts have been made to promote bamboo-based industries in the NER.

In 2018, under National Bamboo Mission (NBM), more than one thousand crores of rupees have been sanctioned for bamboo farmers and artists linked with bamboo handicrafts. NBM focuses on developing bamboo-based industries ranging from food processing to construction. It further aims to build value chain management, connect farmers producing bamboo products and markets and build a bamboo ecosystem with 23 Indian states including all states of NER. Most importantly, it encourages youngsters to become bamboo entrepreneurs as this industry could be a money spinner if exploited its potential appropriately.

Arunachal Pradesh is a classic example in NER, which has the largest number of bamboo entrepreneurs. The state government has financed the local bamboo entrepreneurs to upgrade their bamboo industry. A bamboo technology park is under construction at Kamir Gungu in Papun Pare funded by the North East Council (NEC). This is expected to generate quality products and inspire others to promote the bamboo industry. 

In addition, Arunachal Pradesh Bamboo Resource and Development Agency (APBRDA) delivers technical know-how and skills to more than 1000 bamboo entrepreneurs. Besides, the state’s forest department has proposed a Rs 500 crore project to develop a holistic development of the bamboo sector that will benefit thousands of entrepreneurs in the state. APBRDA, on behalf of the state government, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Creduce and Hydel Consultants Private Limited (HCPL) to boost bamboo cultivation and lead a green growth state and a carbon neutrality across India.

Likewise, the other NER states have been developing the bamboo industry as its demand increases. One artisan from Manipur bagged the ‘Merit Award for Outstanding Craftsperson of the Year 2019-2020’ for his innovative design of mobile phone tripod made out of bamboo. In Assam’s Dima Hasao district, New Delhi is planning to develop the first Bamboo Industrial Park in the NER to develop bamboo-based industries.

Given the significance of bamboo and the abundant availability of different varieties of bamboo, NER can be the ‘Bamboo Capital of India.’ Furthermore, both countries can jointly build ‘global bamboo markets’ and create a global hub in the region. Beyond economics, such initiatives could build people-to-people ties which could serve as the base for facilitating greater economic and strategic cooperation. 

Bamboo diplomacy provides an excellent platform to further deepen societal cooperation necessary for building trust between the two countries. Bamboo industry would also encourage sustainable and eco-friendly products towards achieving a sustainable world.

Through ‘Buddhist diplomacy’, India has been able to build people-to-people relations with several countries including Vietnam as demonstrated in the number of Vietnamese delegates attending the Global Buddhist Summit held in New Delhi earlier this year. Bamboo diplomacy could be another platform that can play a bridging role for India’s NER and Vietnam. 

Anuradha Oinam completed her PhD from CIPOD-SIS, JNU, New Delhi, and is currently associated with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), a Delhi-based Think Tank.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above and the information available are those of the author/s and can therefore in no way be taken to reflect the position of Asian Confluence