The Experience of Pilot EThe Experience of Pilot E--Business Project.Business Project.

((Enhancing income and economic Enhancing income and economic opportunities through Textile opportunities through Textile

Handicrafts)Handicrafts)

Kinzang TobgyalKinzang TobgyalProject ManagerProject Manager

Ministry of Trade & IndustryMinistry of Trade & Industry

Outline of the presentation:Outline of the presentation:

��Brief on the projectBrief on the project��Women Participation in the projectWomen Participation in the project��Achievements of the projectAchievements of the project��Challenges in women entrepreneurship Challenges in women entrepreneurship

developmentdevelopment��Opportunities in women entrepreneurship Opportunities in women entrepreneurship

developmentdevelopment��Internet & Textile productsInternet & Textile products��Rural Women CooperativesRural Women Cooperatives--opportunitiesopportunities

Brief on the project:Brief on the project:

�� The pilot EThe pilot E--Business project was formalized & Business project was formalized & signed in October 2003 with funding from signed in October 2003 with funding from WIDF & UNDP with funding of US$212,180/WIDF & UNDP with funding of US$212,180/--..

�� The project is implemented by PPD in the two The project is implemented by PPD in the two project sites of Khoma and Radhi in eastern project sites of Khoma and Radhi in eastern Bhutan.Bhutan.

�� The project has extensive collaboration with The project has extensive collaboration with National Handloom Development Centre, National Handloom Development Centre, Handicrafts Emporium and the rural weavers.Handicrafts Emporium and the rural weavers.

Brief on the project continued:Brief on the project continued:

Overall objective: Overall objective: �� Economic empowerment of rural women Economic empowerment of rural women

through expanded economic opportunities.through expanded economic opportunities.

Strategies:Strategies:�� Empower rural women by skills intervention in Empower rural women by skills intervention in

terms of product development, product terms of product development, product diversification, quality improvement and diversification, quality improvement and branding of the hand woven textiles.branding of the hand woven textiles.

�� Networking of the rural women artisans.Networking of the rural women artisans.

Brief on the project continued:Brief on the project continued:

�� Provide market access for the artisans Provide market access for the artisans products.products.

�� Strengthen the intermediary level of handicraft Strengthen the intermediary level of handicraft traders.traders.

�� Provide access to raw materials such as yarns, Provide access to raw materials such as yarns, dyes through private public partnerships.dyes through private public partnerships.

�� Study the modalities and feasibility of eStudy the modalities and feasibility of e--business.business.

Women participation in the project:Women participation in the project:

�� Weaving as an art is predominantly carried out Weaving as an art is predominantly carried out by women.by women.

�� A total of 43 rural weavers are registered as A total of 43 rural weavers are registered as members in the project.members in the project.

�� Two weavers Groups have been formed based Two weavers Groups have been formed based on location and product type.on location and product type.

�� The management & administration of the The management & administration of the groups are being done by the weavers groups are being done by the weavers themselves.themselves.

Women participation in the project:Women participation in the project:

�� These weavers are trained on product These weavers are trained on product diversification, natural dyes, creative weaving diversification, natural dyes, creative weaving & dyeing, designing and product adaptation.& dyeing, designing and product adaptation.

�� Since the initiation of the project, a new range Since the initiation of the project, a new range of products have emerged in the market of products have emerged in the market leading to enhanced income. leading to enhanced income.

�� The formation of the groups have ensured the The formation of the groups have ensured the continuity of the project activities and these 2 continuity of the project activities and these 2 Groups are currently involved in supplying Groups are currently involved in supplying textile products to the Handicrafts Emporium.textile products to the Handicrafts Emporium.

Women participation in the project:Women participation in the project:

�� Apart from the registered weavers, another 205 Apart from the registered weavers, another 205 weavers were trained on various aspects of weavers were trained on various aspects of product development.product development.

�� Another 66 women (not necessarily weavers) Another 66 women (not necessarily weavers) were trained on business planning, Group were trained on business planning, Group formation and marketing.formation and marketing.

�� As of now the registered members have As of now the registered members have requested the Ministry for assistance in requested the Ministry for assistance in formation of Cooperatives.formation of Cooperatives.

�� Women in Bhutan are generally hardworking Women in Bhutan are generally hardworking and can take up any business challenges and can take up any business challenges given the right atmosphere.given the right atmosphere.

Project achievementsProject achievements

�� Training on natural dyes and processesTraining on natural dyes and processes�� Product Development & DesigningProduct Development & Designing

workshop/trainingworkshop/training�� Creative Weaving TrainingCreative Weaving Training�� Creative Dyeing TrainingCreative Dyeing Training�� Creative Weaving & Dyeing Training: (for Creative Weaving & Dyeing Training: (for

western and central Dzongkhags)western and central Dzongkhags)�� Pricing and costing analysis workshop for Pricing and costing analysis workshop for

handicraft traders.handicraft traders.

Project achievementsProject achievements

�� Establishment of Yarn Bank at NHDCEstablishment of Yarn Bank at NHDC-- The The recovery rate as of now is almost 100%.recovery rate as of now is almost 100%.

�� Formation of rural weavers group in both Formation of rural weavers group in both the project sites. the project sites.

�� Plantation of natural dyes in both the Plantation of natural dyes in both the project sites. project sites.

�� Over 50 contemporary products were Over 50 contemporary products were developed using traditional designs. developed using traditional designs.

�� Was awarded the SEAL of EXCELLENCE Was awarded the SEAL of EXCELLENCE by UNESCO for 2 products out of 4 by UNESCO for 2 products out of 4 submitted. submitted.

Project achievementsProject achievements

�� Successfully established linkages between Successfully established linkages between rural weavers, NHDC and Handicrafts rural weavers, NHDC and Handicrafts Emporium.Emporium.

�� Supported production infrastructure to NHDC, Supported production infrastructure to NHDC, Handicrafts Emporium and rural weavers.Handicrafts Emporium and rural weavers.

�� Developed a website for the Handicrafts Developed a website for the Handicrafts Emporium (Emporium (www.colorsofbhutan.orgwww.colorsofbhutan.org))

�� As of now the rural weavers from both the As of now the rural weavers from both the project sites, the NHDC and Handicrafts project sites, the NHDC and Handicrafts Emporium have earned a net profit of US $ Emporium have earned a net profit of US $ 58,000/58,000/--. .

Project AchievementsProject Achievements�� In order to provide rural weavers & traders In order to provide rural weavers & traders

market exposure and networking opportunities, market exposure and networking opportunities, the project participated trade fairs and study the project participated trade fairs and study missions abroad. missions abroad.

�� Singapore Fringe FestivalSingapore Fringe Festival-- Participated by Participated by officials from MTI, Handicrafts Emporium, officials from MTI, Handicrafts Emporium, Textile Museum and a rural weaver. Textile Museum and a rural weaver. •• Gave opportunity for the designers from Gave opportunity for the designers from

Singapore to create contemporary products Singapore to create contemporary products using fabrics from Bhutan.using fabrics from Bhutan.

•• Live demonstrations were held to showcase Live demonstrations were held to showcase weaving skills and techniques.weaving skills and techniques.

•• Networking of Handicrafts Emporium and Networking of Handicrafts Emporium and designers initiated. designers initiated.

Project achievementsProject achievements

�� Study Mission to Chang Mai, Thailand. Study Mission to Chang Mai, Thailand. Attended by Handicrafts Emporium, NHDC, Attended by Handicrafts Emporium, NHDC, Rural weavers and MTI.Rural weavers and MTI.•• Visited various textile production centers, Visited various textile production centers,

dyeing houses and textile outlets.dyeing houses and textile outlets.•• Attended short sessions on dyeing methods Attended short sessions on dyeing methods

and designing. and designing. •• Attended the Seal of Excellence judgment as Attended the Seal of Excellence judgment as

observer.observer.•• The mission was successful as some The mission was successful as some

products were replicated and also products were replicated and also plantations of dyes were undertaken. plantations of dyes were undertaken.

Project achievementsProject achievements

�� Santa Fe Folk Art MarketSanta Fe Folk Art Market-- The project by then The project by then has developed over 50 product ranges and it has developed over 50 product ranges and it was appropriate to participate in such festival. was appropriate to participate in such festival. •• Provided a platform for test marketing of the Provided a platform for test marketing of the

new products.new products.•• Out of the 96 products taken almost 90% Out of the 96 products taken almost 90%

were sold.were sold.•• Attended short training on costing and Attended short training on costing and

quality analysis.quality analysis.•• Provided recommendations on market needs Provided recommendations on market needs

which guided the production in project sites. which guided the production in project sites.

Women entrepreneurship developmentWomen entrepreneurship development--Challenges!Challenges!

�� Traditionally perceived as home maker often Traditionally perceived as home maker often playing playing ““Dual RoleDual Role””..

�� Lack of Policy focus on enterprise Lack of Policy focus on enterprise development.development.

�� Small domestic market and weak Small domestic market and weak entrepreneurial base.entrepreneurial base.

�� Nascent stage of promotional institutions.Nascent stage of promotional institutions.�� Low literacy level among women population.Low literacy level among women population.�� Lack of financial resources, often rural credit Lack of financial resources, often rural credit

requires collateral security.requires collateral security.�� Sector specific constraints.Sector specific constraints.

Women entrepreneurship developmentWomen entrepreneurship development--Opportunities!Opportunities!

�� Increasing importance given to private sector Increasing importance given to private sector development by the government.development by the government.

�� Recognition of womenRecognition of women’’s role in the national s role in the national economy.economy.

�� Huge potential for micro, small and medium Huge potential for micro, small and medium enterprises.enterprises.

�� Fairly broad based traditional knowledge and Fairly broad based traditional knowledge and skills.skills.

�� Weaving is a way of life for majority of the rural Weaving is a way of life for majority of the rural women in Bhutan.women in Bhutan.

Women entrepreneurship developmentWomen entrepreneurship development--Opportunities!Opportunities!

�� The image of Bhutan in international market as The image of Bhutan in international market as environmental hotspot environmental hotspot ––inflow of high class inflow of high class tourists.tourists.

�� The emergence of business development The emergence of business development service providers such as BPS, AMS and service providers such as BPS, AMS and schemes introduced by schemes introduced by FIsFIs..

�� Niche products for high end markets.Niche products for high end markets.

Internet & Textile ProductsInternet & Textile Products

�� The use of internet has huge potential for The use of internet has huge potential for developing and promoting textile products. developing and promoting textile products. However selling of textile products through EHowever selling of textile products through E--Business project (Online) has been hindered Business project (Online) has been hindered due to the following:due to the following:

�� Lack of policy/laws on eLack of policy/laws on e--commerce/ecommerce/e--businessbusiness

�� Lack of online payment system/credit Lack of online payment system/credit cardscards

�� Inability to touch and feel the textures Inability to touch and feel the textures of textile productsof textile products

Internet & Textile ProductsInternet & Textile Products

�� Variation in colors of product on the Variation in colors of product on the web web and the actual productand the actual product

�� Low usage of ICT within the handicraft Low usage of ICT within the handicraft sectorsector

�� Handicrafts as a whole is highly informal Handicrafts as a whole is highly informal sectorsector

�� Lack of focal agency for the overall Lack of focal agency for the overall development of handicraft sector.development of handicraft sector.

Rural Women CooperativesRural Women Cooperatives--OpportunitiesOpportunities

��Huge potential for poverty alleviation in the Huge potential for poverty alleviation in the rural areasrural areas

��Information sharing and skills transferInformation sharing and skills transfer��Better access to market (collective Better access to market (collective

marketing)marketing)��Sourcing of raw materialsSourcing of raw materials��Enhanced productivity Enhanced productivity

Thank you!Thank you!