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Traidcraft extends fair trade network to Dhaka

Plans to buy interior accessories, giftware

MONJUR MAHMUD
Traidcraft plc, a global company fighting poverty through trade, has extended its network to Bangladesh.
Engaged in innovative and effective trade, Traidcraft is the leading fair trade organisation in the United Kingdom sourcing from 30 countries including Bangladesh.
Promoting 'fair trade', Traidcraft buys food, craft and textile items from marginalised producers in Africa, Asia and Latin America, to primarily sell in the UK.
"Presently, we are buying products from Aarong, Karika, Jahanara Cottage Industries and MCC," said Kazi shahed H Ferdous, country director of the Traidcraft in Bangladesh. "But we would also like to work in some other major export sectors including readymade garment, shrimp and leather."
Initially, the company has selected local interior accessories and giftware, as there is an increased demand for these items in local urban market as well as in European market, he added. "Bangladesh is already exporting such products and there is a huge poten-
tial for increasing sales."
Also a leading promoter of corporate social responsibility since its inception in 1979, Traidcraft's sales grew by almost 15 percent reaching a total of £13.85 million in 2004.
Trade is the only sustainable way to address the world poverty, Ferdous said adding that 'fair trade' products are now widely available in the supermarkets than ever before.
"The main principle of fair trade is that marginal producers should get fair prices of their products so that they can survive in business following the convention of International Labour Organisation (ILO)," he explained.
Traidcraft believes and has proved that it is possible to run a good business without exploiting the people.
"We don't buy a product only, we follow its story as well. We tell our customers that buying such products helps the poor change their lives."
small businesses are not viable in some cases if they want to follow the ILO conventions, he observed. "so, ethical trading is very important."
"In fair trade, you have to pay
fair prices that cover the full cost of production, a living wage and a fair reward to be earned by producers, " Ferdous said. A shop should not buy a product at Tk 10 when it sells the same thing at Tk 100, he explained.
Traidcraft plc, the trading wing, buys from poor people helping them trade nationally and internationally and build better lives through fair trade. Traidcraft Exchange, the charity wing, is working in 10 countries including Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines to provide information, training, consultancy and practical support. In this way, the company tries to make a real difference in the lives of the poor and win their fair share of the world trade.
The company is going to organise a workshop for the small producers in september in Dhaka.
"We will start with improving product development capacity of the small producers as education and training for product development is very limited here," Ferdous went on. "We want to let the small producers know how to develop a business and how to get market access."