Nelson Mandela Bay will host the first even Global Natural Fibre Forum symposium.
The Forum is a worldwide network that collects and distributes information about the use and economic value of natural fibres and how they can be used by small and micro enterprises, farmers and poor rural communities as way of upliftment.
The symposium, which takes place from the 6th of March, is an initiative of the Commonwealth Secretarirat in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and various other key stakeholders.
CSIR programme manager, Sunshine Blouw, says they have been doing research on natural fibres like mohair, wool and cotton for many years, but in the late 1990's shifted focus to inlcude fibres like flax and hemp with a view to establishing new enterprises in South Africa.
"Its our long held view as CSIR that looking at current global trends towards the use of bio-degradable resource material that these natural fibres (hemp and flax) can grow well in the Eastern Cape, particularly in the rural areas" he said.
"They can be a source of employment creation for our people in the rural areas and it is for that reason that we are part of this intiative," he added.
Blouw says the fact that a delegation from the Commonwealth visited the CSIR facility last October and found that "our facilities are comparable to the facilities found in developed countries."
The Africa Natural Fibre Symposium will be held from 6 to 10 March and will include " technical discussions, presentations and products exhibition."
A statement said "live demonstrations will include fibre extraction, fibre conversion and applications to different industries including packaging, biofuels, bio composites, construction, handicraft, foods, cosmetics, health and textiles industries."
"Natural fibre experts and delegates from the founding member countries will present current natural fibres programme in their respective countries. Commonwealth African countries that have confirmed their attendance include Botswana, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia," the statement said.
Dr. Thandeka R. Kunene, CEO of House of Hemp and Commonwealth Secretariat Regional Expert Consultant said: "Once we have launched the GNFF Africa in March 2012, we can explore ways of ensuring that farmers and SMEs especially in the handicraft and textiles industries can benefit and use the GNFF Africa market and training opportunities to enhance the product range to include lifestyle applications. This will increase job opportunities and income especially in the rural areas".
On the last day of the symposium, the Minister of Economic Development, Mr. E. Patel; the DG of Department of Agriculture, Mr. L. Zitha; the MEC for Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, Mr. M. Jonas; Deputy Secretary General of Commonwealth Secretariat, Mr. Ransford Smith; Mayor of Cacadu District, Clr. Kekane and Dr. Mamphela Ramphele from the private sector will be addressing delegates and other VIPs at the gala dinner to be hosted by the Innovate Eastern Cape.
