At a seminar on the development of the bamboo industry on November 22, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ho Xuan Hung said if the bamboo industry grows by 10-15 percent, Vietnam will require about 100,000 tonnes of rattan and 1 million of bamboo trees every year. Currently, Vietnam imports around 33,000 tonnes of rattan.

Therefore, to develop the industry sustainably, the ministry will protect around 1.6 million hectares of rattan and plant an additional 165,000 ha by 2020.

The ministry proposed many measures to develop rattan materials and support cultivation and protection of both bamboo and rattan.

In Vietnam, bamboo and rattan are important forestry products with high value. Exports of these products increased from US$48 million in 1999 to US$224.7 million in 2008 and are expected to reach US$300 million 2010. The products are now available in 120 countries and territories.

Around 270 villages with 340,000 workers are involved in the industry.