Traidcraft Exchange has been working in the South East Asia region since 1994, when we began a programme of assistance to fair trade producers in the Philippines.
Our South East Asia programme expanded to Cambodia in 2003, where we have been working to help small handicraft enterprises, particularly those that provide employment for disadvantaged groups, to improve their businesses and increase their sales.
In 2005 we expanded our work to include Vietnam. We now have a regional office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to help us broaden and deepen our impact in the region.
Why do we work in South East Asia?
Poverty in South East Asia is widespread. Cambodia and Vietnam are among the poorest countries in the region, with roughly a third of their populations struggling to get by on an income of less than $1 (52p) per day.
Poverty is concentrated in rural areas, where rice farming is the main form of subsistence, though many people rely on handicraft production to bring in a little additional household income for basic necessities.
The Philippines is more economically developed, but the gap between rich and poor is large and poverty is still a significant problem, especially in rural areas.
Our current projects in South East Asia
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Market Access Programme, Vietnam This 3-year project is assisting handicraft producers in North Central Vietnam to improve their businesses, increase their sales, and consequently help more disadvantaged producers in the region.
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Sustainable Trade for Social Enterprises, Cambodia This 3-year project in Cambodia is helping ‘social’ enterprises to improve their business performance and access new markets, consequently enabling them to increase the benefits they provide to poor producers and their families.
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CraftNetwork, Cambodia This project, managed and implemented by Traidcraft Exchange on behalf of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), aims to support the growth of the Cambodian handicrafts industry.
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