Handicrafts World News

eBay launches online site in Vietnamese
The Age, Australia

Online auction giant eBay has made public a promotional site in the Vietnamese language at eBay.vn, hoping to benefit from Vietnam’s economic and trade potential, the company said Thursday.

A high Internet using rate, stable and fast economic growth and the communist nation’s membership of the World Trade Organisation were considered momentums for eBay to launch the site, said Sam McDonagh, Director for eBay Southeast Asia, in a statement. (more…)

Ile Maurice: When Handicraft Needs a Scent of Authenticity
All Africa, Mauritania

New ways have to be found to attract potential tourists. The latter must be offered genuine exotic products that are also exclusive. This needs commitment.

Dacom Ltd, found in Solitude, has developped a line of products with natural local flagrances with the help of Compagnons du Parfum. (more…)

Artist shows dedication with nimble fingers
Viet Nam News, Vietnam
by Hoa Trang

Like millions of Vietnamese people, Nguyen Van Trung loves Uncle Ho. His way of showing it, however, is entirely his own.

Trung, 54, has woven President Ho Chi Minh image by hand nearly 200 times using rattan, bamboo and other natural materials.

A native of a craft village in Chuong My District in the northern province of Ha Tay, Trung treats the products of his labour as much more than mementos of the beloved Uncle Ho. (more…)

Handicraft Industry Has Potential To Stimulate National Economy - Najib
Bernama, Malaysia

PEKAN, June 25 (Bernama) — The handicraft industry has big potential to stimulate national economic growth, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Monday.

Though the industry is largely rural-based, it had produced 3,787 handicraft entrepreneurs and provided jobs for nearly 10,000 people, he said.

He said RM164.5 million has been allocated under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to further develop and strengthen the viable industry, he said when speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Pahang Royal Weaving Skills Institute by the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah. (more…)

Solo parents trained on handicraft-making
Sun.Star, Philippines

THE Gender and Development (GAD) focal point group led by Vice Mayor and District I congressman-elect Beng Climaco has sponsored a two-day training on handicraft making for single mothers mostly employees of the City Government and other agencies.

Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage

View here the list of local winners (more…)

Priority to handicraft oriented trade urged
The New Nation, Bangladesh

Economists, researchers and experts urged the government to give priority handicrafts to oriented trade for the economic development of the country.

They underscored the need for following fair trade policy while importing and exporting goods.

They said, “We have yet to give an institutional form of the craft oriented products. We should introduce an alternative business solution for the betterment of this sector.” (more…)

New steps for handicraft sector on anvil: Vaghela
NewKerala.com, India

Chennai, June 20: Union Textiles Minister Shanker Sinh Vaghela said here today his Ministry proposed to take up various new initiatives under the existing schemes of the handicraft sector for implementation under the XI Plan.

The initiatives would help modifiy and remodel the old schemes for implementation in the sector during Plan period, he said (more…)

Artisan’s success encourages village to revamp handicraft trade
Viet Nam News, Vietnam

Most people achieve fame first through a regional competition, then a national or international contest. Nguyen Van Trung is an exception. He built his name abroad before being recognised by his home village.

At the age of 18, Trung fell ill and his legs became paralyzed. Having time on his hands while staying at home, he learned to weave rattan and bamboo items from his father, an artisan from Phu My village, north of Chuong My Commune, Ha Tay Province. (more…)

Children In Handicraft Activity At Seria Library
By Hanni ABD
Bru Direct, Brunei Darussalam

Bandar Seri Begawan - Children below the age of 12 in Seria recently took part in a handicraft activity held at the public library.

The handicraft competition involved 20 students making a basket out of cardboard and the end result was put on display at the library shelves.

Other past handicraft works included a rug made from cardboard and a photo frame made from paper plates and newspapers. The winners will be announced at the library’s Pustaka Ria event. — Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

A new market trend
By HONG VAN – HCMC
Saigon Times Daily, Vietnam

Producing furniture us-ing a combination of wood and other materials like metals, rattan, cane and banana trees has become a new trend in the domestic wood processing industry in recent times.

Tran Quoc Manh, vice chairman of the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of HCMC (HAWA), says Vietnamese woodwork manufacturers should focus on furniture made from wood in combination with other materials in an effort to save wood and meet customers’ demand for quality and design.

“To attain sustainable development, Vietnamese wood processors should maintain export growth, create a wide range of products in various styles and save on wood,” Manh says, adding this is also a money-saving solution.

As an expert in the wood processing industry, Manh says Vietnam imports more than 80% of material wood from foreign countries. However, a 10-20% annual rise in prices and exporting countries’ restrictions on wood exports such as Malaysia and Indonesia are forcing local manufacturers to cut down on production costs and at the same time ensure product quality. (more…)