Traidcraft Exchange started working in South Asia in 1995, when we launched a project to support small businesses and poor producers in India. Our work soon expanded with a similar project in Bangladesh and has since gone from strength to strength.
Our South Asia programme is our largest and strongest. Traidcraft Exchange has nine major projects in South Asia with a total value of almost £3 million. We are working in various regions, on diverse projects, with a range of local partners; but all with the same ultimate aim of improving the income and living conditions of poor producers.
In 2005 we set up an office in Bangladesh to help us increase our impact in the region. We plan to establish an office in India in 2007.
Why do we work in South Asia?
South Asia is one of the fastest growing regions in the world but millions still live in extreme poverty. The region is home to more than 375 million of the world's poor; the largest concentration of poverty in the developing world.
Over the last decade, South Asia has seen strong economic growth. However at the same time there has also been a rise in inequality in the region, which has dampened the poverty-reducing impact of growth.
Uneven growth within countries has resulted in large sections of the population (particularly poor, rural communities) being excluded from the benefits of growth.
Our current projects in South Asia
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Promoting Fair Trade in India (PROFIT) This 3-year project is developing the fair trade market in India. With a rapidly growing middle class, this could offer a huge opportunity to poor producers in India.
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Fair Trade Plus, India This 3-year project is working to increase the impact of fair trade on poverty in India.
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