The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 42.2 million (USD 42.2 mn) Small Expenditure Financing Facility (SEFF) to support development of the bamboo industry in India's northeastern region. The financing aims to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen rural livelihoods and reduce dependence on imports. The facility will support community-based projects across six northeastern states, namely Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. Funds will be provided through multiple subloans to back activities that improve the growth, use and management of bamboo resources, and to promote women's participation across the value chain. The project intends to ensure employment opportunities for women and to establish at least one women-led manufacturing facility in each participating state. ADB Country Director for India, Mio Oka, described the financing as a measure to harness abundant bamboo resources and to build private sector-led industrial value chains that stimulate trade, investment and infrastructure. ADB noted that India holds 39 per cent of the world's forest bamboo resources but that the domestic bamboo value chain remains underdeveloped and continues to rely on imports. The facility is aligned with the Government of India's National Bamboo Mission and aims to strengthen cultivation, production and marketing activities while increasing the income of bamboo producers. The programme will also improve access to finance for private investors and entrepreneurs operating in the sector. Other components include bamboo resource management and mapping, research and training activities, project design and procurement support, and the development of digital solutions across the bamboo value chain. The initiative will support capacity building for the National Bamboo Mission, State Bamboo Missions and technical institutions involved in the sector. The project is intended to create a stronger bamboo-based industrial ecosystem in the region, generate employment opportunities and support sustainable economic growth.