US door for handicraft made by women
Fiji Times, Fiji
PLANS are in motion to export handicrafts made by women in the Northern Division to the United States, says Interim Social Welfare Minister, Adi Laufitu Malani.
Adi Laufitu revealed this during her meeting with the committee of the National Centre for Small and Micro Enterprises Development in Labasa yesterday.
She said the interim Government was looking at products such as tapa, kuta, mats and other handicraft work that were of interest in the American market.
She said they were looking at arranging the exports under “duty-free” privileges.
“We want the women in the Northern Division to take advantage of the opportunity where they can sell certain goods to the US without paying duty,” Adi Laufitu said.
“So we are discussing at this stage with the parties involved and are urging women to apply for assistance under the Northern Development Funds of $5million to help them start their handicraft businesses.”
She said the ministry was also working on its membership fee to join the Fiji/American Business Council because the council could help identify markets for the ministry.
“Once we become a member, we will seek the council’s advice and ways of selling the womens’ products to the US market and even receiving orders online from America.
“If that is done, then it will be much easier for the women to sell their products to the US and this will only benefit not only the women and their families but the nation as a whole,” Adi Laufitu said.
She said the ministry had already contacted its field officers and told them about the plans of engaging rural women to sell products in the US market. “The field officers will inform the women in villages and they will work together to identify products to sell in the US market.”