On November 6, 2017, a flag-raising ceremony to commemorate Brazil’s accession into INBAR was held at INBAR Headquarters in Beijing. The ceremony was attended by JIANG Zehui, Co-Chair of INBAR Board of Trustees and Director General of ICBR; PENG Youdong, Deputy Administrator of China’s State Forestry Administration (SFA); Antonia Hugh, Jamaican Ambassador to China on behalf of the Chair of INBAR Council; Jorge Viana, former President of the Brazilian Senate; Marcos Caramuru de Paiva, Brazilian Ambassador to China; Hans Friederich, Director General of INBAR; and LIU Shirong, Deputy Director General of ICBR, among many others.

 

JIANG Zehui welcomed Brazil to the INBAR family and recalled the country’s 12-year-long journey into this organisation. A formal proposal was presented to the Brazilian Parliament in 2014 and approved by the end of 2016. Brazil boasts one of the world’s most abundant bamboo resource bases. Its membership will greatly boost INBAR’s representation and influence as well as promote the sustainable development of bamboo and rattan industries in South America.

 

PENG Youdong congratulated Brazil on becoming the 43rd member of INBAR. He commended INBAR’s major contribution to the great progress of global bamboo and rattan industries and to the sustainable development of bamboo and rattan in China and around the world in the past 20 years. China being the host country of INBAR, the Chinese government has always supported the development of this organisation and has paid much attention to actively conduct cooperation with other member countries. As the focal point of INBAR in China, SFA will continue working with all the other members to contribute to the healthy and sustainable development of bamboo and rattan industries in the world.

 

Jorge Viana remarked that it is Brazil’s great pleasure to join this big family and that Brazil stands ready to enhance its collaboration and exchanges with other members and contribute to the sustainability of global bamboo and rattan industries.

 

Witnessed by all the guests, Hans Friederich and Marcos Caramuru de Paiva raised the national flag of Brazil on the square in front of INBAR Headquarters.