The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) has entered a cooperation agreement with organizers of the Asian Hemp Summit set Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2020 in Nepal. Asia’s vibrant hemp market will be in focus when leading stakeholders from all over the world gather at Kathmandu’s Park Forest Resort for the second annual Summit.
“Many of our members already have working relationships in Asia, so they recognize the opportunities the region represents,” EIHA Managing Director Lorenza Romanese, said of the cooperation.
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“And as an Association, we have common interests with similar trade groups across the region,” Romanese said. “The Summit is in line with EIHA’s goal to be a leader in advancing international cooperation among nations and industry stakeholders all over the world.”
EIHA: Leading global organization
The European Industrial Hemp Association, the only pan-European membership organization for the industrial hemp sectors, has a nearly two-decade legacy. Based in Brussels and Cologne, the organization was officially launched in 2005 to give the hemp industry a voice at the European Commission. EIHA has been a leader in representing the interests of European hemp stakeholders during the development of laws and regulations affecting the industry. The Association’s membership encompasses 25 EU states and 12 additional countries including the Asia Pacific and North America.
Daniel Kruse, newly elected president of the EIHA, is among the speakers for the 2019 Asian Hemp Summit.
Learning & networking
Sessions on entrepreneurship, investing and public service will highlight the event, which also will feature presentations covering a wide range of hemp sectors and hemp-specific processing technology along with market reports on select Asian countries.
The Asian Hemp Summit proved an effective networking platform for the companies, stakeholders, politicians, development agencies, researchers, environmental groups, retailers, and private hemp enthusiasts who attended the inaugural Summit in 2019, said Nivedita Shah, Shah Hemp Inno-Ventures (SHIV), host organizer.
“We saw relationships forming immediately after last year’s Summit,” said Shah. “It’s amazing what can happen when people with common interests and challenges meet face to face,” Shah said.
Other organizers of the Asian Hemp Summit are HempToday and Czech-based Hempoint, a vertically integrated producer and consultancy. Sponsors already signed up in support of the Asian Hemp Summit are High Grade Hemp Seeds Inc. (HGH) of the USA, HempConsult GmbH of Germany, and Ulaanbaatar-based startup HempMongolia.
Awards for innovation
Summit organizers are again putting hemp entrepreneurs in the spotlight through an Entrepreneur Rewards Program that will honor innovation among hemp startups.
Up to five honorees will be selected from among researchers & business students, startups and other early-stage initiatives. The top prize winner will receive a free accreditation and accommodation at the Summit and make a 15-minute presentation to attendees. The application deadline for the Entrepreneur Rewards Program competition is Friday, Jan. 10, with winners to be announced Monday, Jan. 13.
Enterprise Hemp, an online business matchmaker, is the sponsor of the Entrepreneur Rewards Program.
HempBoutique showroom
The Summit also will feature HempToday Boutique, a traveling pop-up showroom adjacent to the main Summit hall that will feature hemp products from around the world. The HempToday Boutique has been featured in the past at NoCo Hemp Expo in Colorado, USA, the European Industrial Hemp Association’s annual conference and the Latin-American & Caribbean Hemp Summit.
