NewsINBAR Board Chair Ali Mchumo honored with the Chinese Government Friendship Award
The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to China’s development and his advocacy of bamboo and rattan for sustainable development.
The Chinese government has conferred the 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award upon 50 foreign experts in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the nation’s development. Among the distinguished honorees is Mr. Ali Said Mchumo, a Tanzanian expert and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR).
Boasting a distinguished diplomatic career spanning nearly five decades, Mr. Mchumo has served as an ambassador to several nations and held key leadership positions in various international institutions. He led INBAR as its Director General from 2019 to 2024 before assuming his current role as Chairman of the INBAR Board of Trustees. Throughout his extensive career in politics and diplomacy, he has maintained robust cooperative relations with China, playing a pivotal role in multiple critical sectors.
During his tenure as both Director-General and Chairman of INBAR, Mr. Mchumo has been a proactive advocate for bamboo and rattan as nature-based solutions for sustainable development. He has worked diligently to advance South-South cooperation and North-South dialogue in fields related to these resources. Furthermore, he has been instrumental in fostering innovation and promoting the internationalization of China’s bamboo and rattan industry. His dedicated efforts have significantly elevated the global profile and influence of Chinese bamboo and rattan.
