WFTO - First Arab Fair Trade Forum

First Arab Fair Trade Forum

18 January 2010

The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) welcomes with great pride the First Arab Fair Trade Forum on 5 to 7 December in Amman, Jordan. This event has shown that the Fair Trade movement in the Arab region is growing and making impact on the lives of the Arab people.

On behalf of the organisers, and the Arab artisans and small scale producers, we invite interested organizations and individual to come and witness this historic gathering of Arab Fair Trade Organizations.

The organisers, the Palestine Fair Trade Network and the Institute for Community Partnership of the Bethlehem University in Palestine, hoped to spread more awareness on Fair Trade in the region, allow sharing of experiences and best practices, and set solid foundation for creating an Arab Fair Trade Network through this event.

The conference will provide a wide base of information on Fair Trade bodies and movements in the Arab world as well as the entire globe. An overview of some certification initiatives will also be included, as well as a great opportunity for networking among potential sellers and buyers.

Conference major themes

Arab Fair Trade Experience: Current and Future Prospects
International Fair Trade Movements & Certification Bodies
Networks: Formation and Advantages
Marketing and Trade Potential

For more information, please visit the conference web site: www.aftf.bethlehem.edu or contact organizers at このメールアドレスはスパムボットから保護されています。観覧するにはJavaScriptを有効にして下さい . To register please go to the conference web site.

Palestine Fair Trade
Palestine offers high quality and distinctive olive products, almonds, dates and wood carvings as their main produce. Several organizations, producers and exporters are now embracing the principles of Fair Trade to their entire supply chain, and had attracted local and foreign buyers.

During the launching of the Palestine Fair Trade Network, Issa Elshatleh of the Palestinian Farmers’ Association Union shared their experience of the booming Fair Trade industry. “The Palestinian Fair Trade sector is booming and it is essential for the public to understand how unique and high quality Palestinian goods are. The Fair Trade Network is a one-of-a-kind in Palestine and this approach will help Palestinian farmers and producers increase their presence in the local and international markets,” said Issa Elshatleh.

“Already, some members of the Network are exporting to Europe, North America, Arab countries and Israel. This is the first step toward greater confidence, independence and economic security for our farmers,” added Elshatleh.

The Palestine Fair Trade Network
The network was formed in 2008 to unite efforts of the different Fair Trade groups in Palestine. It was launched as a formal network in March this year to help Palestinian farmers, artisans and exporters get a slice of the growing market for Fair Trade products throughout the world.

The network is still in its initial stages and currently has five partners: the Fair Trade Development Centre, the Holy Land Handicrafts Cooperative, the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee, the Palestinian Farmers Union, and the Union of Agricultural Work Committees; and OXFAM G.B. as its support organization. The network is seeking to increase its memberships and will have a workshop during the conference for planning purposes.

Event sponsors
This event is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the EU and Oxfam GB.

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