Ambassador of European Commission (EC) to Bangladesh Stefan Frowein yesterday said the commission will give trade-related technical assistance to boost Bangladesh's export of handicrafts.

The quality of products, however, must be developed, he said at a workshop on 'Improving Product Development Practice amongst Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises' organised by Traidcraft Exchange in the capital.

The UK-based NGO, Traidcraft Exchange, in association with EC-funded Asia Invest, is providing training on handicrafts focussing on EU buyers' requirements.

The first rule of business is to know customers and ensure that the products are designed with such care and skill that they are tailored to meet the demands of design and fashion, said Frowein, also head of delegation of EC.

The Traidcraft officials said there is a wealth of raw materials available in Bangladesh, including wood, jute, cane, bamboo, grass, straw, clay and hand woven fabrics.

Handicraft producers, 80 percent of them are women, use a wide range of traditional techniques to produce interior accessories, fashion accessories, giftware and stationery products.

Traidcraft UK's Helen McCree and Traidcraft Bangladesh Country Director Kazi Shahed H Ferdous also spoke.