Kamesh SALAM
Kamesh SALAM (born 7 August 1967) is an Indian Bamboo Value Chain Expert based in Guwahati, Assam. He is internationally recognized as one of South Asia's leading bamboo professionals and is widely known as the founder of World Bamboo Day, established in 2009. Over the course of his career, he has contributed significantly to bamboo research, enterprise development, sustainable livelihoods, policy advocacy, and value chain development across Asia and other parts of the world.
Early Life
Kamesh SALAM was born on 7 August 1967 in Imphal, Manipur, India. He later established his professional base in Guwahati, Assam, from where he has continued his work in bamboo innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and international collaboration.
Education
Kamesh SALAM is a graduate and received specialized technical training in China, where he gained advanced knowledge of bamboo processing, utilization, and value chain development. His academic and technical background laid the foundation for his lifelong work in promoting bamboo as a sustainable economic resource.
Career
Kamesh SALAM has devoted more than three decades to advancing the bamboo sector through innovation, research, enterprise development, policy advocacy, sustainable livelihoods, and international collaboration. Widely regarded as one of the architects of Northeast India's bamboo growth story, he has played a pivotal role in transforming bamboo from a traditional forest resource into a strategic economic, environmental, and industrial asset.
Born in Manipur and professionally based in Guwahati, Assam, he has worked extensively to build an integrated bamboo value chain connecting farmers, artisans, entrepreneurs, industries, investors, researchers, and policymakers. His work focuses on strengthening sustainable livelihoods while promoting bamboo as a renewable resource capable of supporting climate resilience, green infrastructure, and inclusive economic growth.
Between 1999 and 2012, Kamesh SALAM worked extensively with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on bamboo development programmes across India, Ghana, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. During this period, he contributed to the planning and implementation of bamboo-based industrial development initiatives, technology transfer, capacity building, enterprise development, value chain strengthening, rural livelihood programmes, and international cooperation projects. His work with UNIDO helped establish sustainable bamboo industries, strengthen institutional capacities, and promote bamboo as a viable green economic resource in both Asia and Africa.
Kamesh SALAM is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cane and Bamboo Value Chain Management (CanBoo). Through CanBoo, he pioneered a comprehensive bamboo value chain model encompassing cultivation, processing, product development, enterprise creation, market access, investment promotion, and industrial innovation.
Under his leadership, CanBoo has promoted the application of bamboo in sustainable construction, green infrastructure, engineered bamboo products, furniture manufacturing, handicrafts, biochar production, carbon sequestration, renewable materials, environmentally responsible manufacturing practices, and circular economy initiatives.
In 2009, during his tenure as President of the World Bamboo Organization (WBO), Kamesh SALAM founded World Bamboo Day during the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok, Thailand. The annual observance has since evolved into a global movement promoting awareness of bamboo's environmental, economic, cultural, and social importance.
He made history as the first and only Asian to be elected President of the World Bamboo Organization (WBO), the world's premier international organization dedicated to bamboo research, innovation, trade, policy, and sustainable development.
His career has also included collaborations with leading international organizations and development agencies, including UNIDO, UNDP, Asian Development Bank (ADB), INBAR, PwC, CII, and numerous national and state governments, providing strategic guidance on bamboo policy, industrial development, sustainable construction, bio-based industries, climate-smart technologies, and investment promotion.
Professional Contributions
Kamesh SALAM has made significant contributions to the development of the bamboo sector through initiatives involving:
- Bamboo Value Chain Development
- Bamboo Enterprise Promotion
- Sustainable Livelihood Development
- Bamboo Policy Advocacy
- Rural Entrepreneurship Development
- Bamboo Processing Technologies
- Green Economy Initiatives
- Climate Resilience through Bamboo
- Bamboo-Based Sustainable Construction
- Engineered Bamboo Products
- Carbon Sequestration Initiatives
- Capacity Building and Skill Development
- International Bamboo Cooperation
- Community-Based Bamboo Development
- Investment Promotion in Bamboo Industries
He has contributed to the preparation of Development Project Reports (DPRs), strategic development plans, and sectoral initiatives under the National Bamboo Mission, where he also served as a Member of its Apex Committee.
He has consistently advocated improving the Ease of Doing Business in the bamboo sector by promoting policy reforms, investment, market development, and private-sector participation.
Kamesh SALAM played an important role in advocacy efforts that contributed to reforms culminating in the Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, which removed major regulatory barriers governing the cultivation and transit of bamboo grown outside forest areas. These reforms created significant new opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs, industries, and investors across India.
He has collaborated extensively with governments, universities, research institutions, and international organizations including:
- United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
- Asian Development Bank (ADB)
These collaborations have strengthened bamboo enterprise development, sustainable industrialization, climate-smart livelihoods, green infrastructure, and economic growth across South Asia.
One of the notable examples of his vision is CanBoo's contribution to bamboo-inspired infrastructure and design initiatives at Guwahati International Airport Limited (GIAL). These initiatives demonstrate how indigenous materials, local craftsmanship, and sustainable design can contribute to internationally recognized infrastructure while showcasing the culture, heritage, and sustainability ethos of Northeast India.
World Bamboo Day
Kamesh SALAM is the founder of World Bamboo Day, officially established on 18 September 2009 during the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok, Thailand.
The annual observance is celebrated in numerous countries to promote awareness of bamboo's environmental, economic, cultural, and social significance while encouraging its sustainable cultivation, utilization, conservation, innovation, and responsible use.
Recognition
Kamesh SALAM is internationally recognized as one of South Asia's foremost bamboo experts and value chain specialists.
He is the recipient of the Outstanding Green Activist Award of India in recognition of his outstanding contributions to sustainable development, environmental conservation, green enterprise, and bamboo-based livelihood promotion.
His pioneering work has significantly influenced bamboo entrepreneurship, industrial development, public policy, research, market systems, and sustainable development initiatives at both national and international levels.
He is widely acknowledged for demonstrating bamboo's potential as a strategic renewable resource capable of supporting climate resilience, green infrastructure, circular economy practices, rural prosperity, employment generation, and sustainable economic growth.
Vision
As India advances towards the vision of Viksit Bharat, Kamesh SALAM continues to advocate bamboo as a strategic renewable resource for environmental conservation, sustainable livelihoods, climate resilience, green infrastructure, employment generation, and inclusive economic development.
He believes:
"Bamboo is not merely a resource; it is a pathway to sustainable livelihoods, climate resilience, green infrastructure, and a more prosperous future for communities around the world."
Today, Kamesh SALAM continues to champion bamboo as a strategic material for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting climate action, carbon neutrality, green infrastructure, renewable materials, and circular economy solutions.
His long-term vision focuses on integrating bamboo into national and international sustainable development strategies through innovation, entrepreneurship, industrialization, investment, research, policy advocacy, and global cooperation across the bamboo value chain. His vision is to position bamboo as a mainstream industrial resource capable of generating sustainable livelihoods, strengthening rural economies, and contributing to a low-carbon future both in India and globally.
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