Women’s groups better their handicraft skills
Fiji Times, Fiji
AS part of northern development, Minister for Women Adi Laufitu Malani has held talks with the Fiji American Chamber of Commerce for possible exporting of handicraft to the US by women in the North.
Adi Laufitu, who started the project to better the living standard of women in the North in terms of small revenue generating businesses, said handicraft to be exported would be made out of kuta, voivoi and wame.
“Consultations with the Fiji AMCHAM (American chamber of commerce) have started and we are hopeful they are fruitful.
“At this stage only handicraft made from kuta, voivoi and wame are being looked at and we are in the process of applying for membership with Fiji AMCHAM. We have to satisfy requirements before we can export to the US,” Adi Laufitu said.
She said the move was her ministry’s program for traditional handicraft makers.
“Once we have the weavers exporting to the US, we will concentrate on other handicraft makers.
“The reason we choose to pilot this in the Northern Division is to work in tandem with the northern development program.”
Training for women has started in the North with the help of the National Centre for Small and Micro-Enterprise Development.
“We are looking widely at handicraft development and local, regional and US markets.”