A project on sustainable production of rattan products will be continued in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue with funding from IKEA company.

The second phase of the project with a total capital of 56,539 USD channeled through the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) will be carried out in Nam Dong and A Luoi districts from January 2012 to July 2014.

It aims to develop the rattan processing and production industry, help improve the environment, increase competitiveness and reduce poverty reduction.

The project will also help provide technical assistance for local people, establish a system of rattan supply and develop materials areas.
Additionally, projected beneficiaries will be educated about the law and policies, plans for sustainable forest management and harvesting methods.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has defined bamboo and rattan as the major trees in non-timber exports that help reduce poverty and boost rural economic development in Vietnam in the 2011-2015 period.

To ensure sustainable development, the ministry will plant an additional 165,000 ha of natural bamboo and rattan trees apart from the existing 1.6 million ha.

The ministry will also provide seedlings and investment capital to bamboo and rattan growers and apply measures to protect bamboo and rattan forests.

Bamboo and rattan are among Vietnam ’s non-timber products with high-economic value. Their export value rose from 48 million USD in 1999 to 224.7 million USD in 2008 and is expected to reach 300 million USD in 2010. The products are exported to 120 markets worldwide.

Non-timber forestry is closely attached to almost 24 million mountainous ethnic people. The country now has more than 2,000 traditional craft villages, including 723 traditional bamboo and rattan weaving craft villages.

IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer. It was founded in Sweden in 1943./.