18 / 106
18
The TaiwanICDF has cooperated
with the government of Guatemala
in implementing projects promoting
bamboo crafts technology for many
years, cultivating much talent in this
field and promoting the production
and sales of local bamboo craft items.
Nevertheless, product development
a n d m a n u f a c t u r e r e m a i n
confined primarily to small-scale
production by individual artisans or
microenterprises, who are part of the
dispersed distribution processing
and manufacturing model, incapable
of effectively integrating into industrial
clusters. The result of this is that
technological development and
industrial upgrading have stagnated.
To increase the effectiveness
of bamboo craft projects, in 2013,
Taiwan elaborated a cooperation
p r o j ec t w i t h t he M i n i s t r y o f
Agriculture, Livestock and Food of
Guatemala for carrying out a bamboo
industries project to assist Guatemala
in developing a comprehensive
bamboo industry framework and
industry chain to stimulate local
economic activity. Additionally,
the project promoted large-scale
commercial bamboo afforestation,
t he r eby i nc r ea s i ng bamboo
resources and solving
the issues of damages
to the natural vegetation.
This project intended
to promote a production
a n d m a n a g e m e n t
model of bamboo for
commercial use and
extensive afforestation
t o i n c r e a s e t h e
stable supply and quality control
of the material. At the same time,
exchanges on product innovation
and development, and consultations
regarding manufacturing efficiency
were held to improve the productive
c a p a c i t y a n d e a r n i n g s o f
microenterprises, and promote the
sustainable development of local
industries.
Increased Bamboo Supply
Helps Raise Product Quality
and Profit
Since its implementation in
January 2014, the project has seen
50 hectares of newly planted bamboo
for commercial use, and assisted in
the commercialized production of
326 hectares of existing bamboo,
effectively increasing the supply of
bamboo.
As well, diagnostic data for
bamboo businesses were completed
and a guidance strategy formulated
to improve the competitiveness of the
bamboo industry. Moreover, training
courses on bamboo products,
product exhibitions, and investment
promotional activities and seminars
were held, all aimed at raising the
understanding of bamboo and the
techniques needed for its
commercial production
among manufacturers,
a n d a t i m p r o v i n g
product quality and profit
margins.
During the next phase
of the project, we will
continue to increase the
supply of high-quality
bamboo. We will also strengthen
manufacturers’ technical capacity
and industry competitiveness,
and integrate existing resources.
In addition, we will adopt a highly
specialized approach to division
of labor to move crafts products
toward commercialized production,
improve profit margins and provide
operational advantages in the market
place.
In the face of global competition,
this project is expected to help
Guatemala enhance the diversity of
bamboo application, increase the
added value for bamboo products,
and strengthen the profitability of the
industry.
28
Growth in bamboo industry
production value
%
Guatemala
Bamboo Industries Project
4
Case Study