The Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP), in collaboration with SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Dhaka, organized a Regional Workshop on Community based Non-wood Forest Product Enterprise Development:  A sustainable business model during 24-26 August 2017 in Thimphu, Bhutan. Through this expert consultation, CIRDAP and SAC aimed to develop a regional project to be implemented in the region for the hilly population in South Asia, Southeast Asia and Pacific countries, Experts from seven SAARC Countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh. Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan) and three Southeast Asian Countries (Lao PDR, Myanmar and Philippines) and Fiji Islands from Pacific Countries participated in the Workshop. The Workshop was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Secretary, Ministry of Agricultural Development, Royal Government of Bhutan on 24 August 2017 at a Local Hotel at Thimpu. The workshop came up with several recommendations including the issues to be covered in the regional initiatives

H.E. Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, MP, Hon’ble Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD&C), Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh inaugurated the Meeting as Chief Guest on 3rd May, 2017. The Meeting was chaired by Mr. Muhammad Maududur Rashid Safdar, Director General of BARD, where Mr. Ananda Chanrda Biswas, Secretary In-charge of Rural Development and Cooperative Division (RDCD), Ministry of LGRD&C attended as Special Guest. In his address, Hon’ble Minister stressed that rural development has become a core agendum that touches the premises of most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of United Nations. He urged that CIRDAP Member Countries should work closely with its Secretariat to have collaborative efforts for poverty alleviation and rural development in the region. CIRDAP will also be able to understand the development need of its member countries and work as a center of excellence for people-centric and inclusive development. The Secretary In-charge (RDCD) Mr. Biswas highlighted the importance of exchange of views, ideas and expertise in different fields of rural development among the link Institutions of CIRDAP. CIRDAP Director General Mr. Tevita G. Boseiwaqa Taginavulau while welcoming the participants expressed his warm thanks to BARD for hosting the meeting on behalf of Bangladesh, and mentioned that Bangladesh has become a role model for development globally. Ms. Aziza Binti Ahmed, the outgoing Chairperson of CIRDAP Technical Committee [TC-31] expressed gratitude to Bangladesh for warm hospitality. DG BARD, Chairperson of the inaugural session, expressed his commitment for poverty alleviation and rural development. He assured that BARD will continue working with CIRDAP and its member countries. In the meeting, several agenda were discussed in the Technical Sessions. In these sessions, delegates from CIRDAP member countries shared their experiences and innovative initiatives on rural development. On 06 May 2017, field visit was organized for all the participants to the Comprehensive Village Development Programme (CVDP) and ‘One House One Farm’ project area in Comilla, Bangladesh.