The Lao Handicraft Association (LHA) has called on local people, hotels and restaurant entrepreneurs to buy more handicraft products as a way to promote products made in Laos.

The Sustainable Rattan-Bamboo Project, in cooperation with the Lao Handicraft Association, held a matching meeting between sustainable rattan-bamboo producers and potential customers, such as hotels and restaurants, in Vientiane Capital on Nov 3.

The meeting aimed to promote the rattan-bamboo businesses by highlighting the domestic market, exchanging points of view between buyers and sellers, and promoting sustainable rattan-bamboo products.

The meeting also aimed to protect and preserve traditional Lao weaving patterns and increase understandings between domestic buyers and sellers.

President of the Lao Handicraft Association Mr. Hansana Sisane has urged local businesspeople to buy more products made from rattan and bamboo in order to help local rattan and bamboo producers as a way to conserve handicraft skills in making rattan and bamboo products.

Handicrafts products made from rattan and bamboo have become the main source of income for some people in the provinces of Vientiane, Xekong and Borikhamxay, said Mr. Hansana.

“Currently, Forest Stewardship Council-certification increases the incentives for local communities to participate in the protection of natural resources, rattan in this case, and prevent the unsustainable use of land resources,” said Project Manager of the Rattan and Bamboo Project Mrs Bouavan Phachomphonh.

The WWF Sustainable Rattan Programme has been promoting sustainability and market links in Laos since 2006 by working with government authorities and communities to link local rattan producers to the global market.

Since 2009, the WWF Sustainable Rattan Programme has promoted and assessed the capacity of locals in Khamkurt district, Borikhamxay and considered creating handicraft groups in the seven villages of Sobphouan, Phonthong, Donsard, Poungpatao, Kouanchan, Thaveng and Xamteuy.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by Manythone

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]