Traditional crafts for economic growth
Thimphu: Residents here have been wondering about the odd looking skeletal bamboo structures being erected along the Norzin Lam, the main street.
The upcoming bamboo structures along Bhutan’s main street will be the country’s first crafts bazaar, which will focus on economic growth through cultural promotion, a part of the Accelerating Bhutan’s Socio Economic Development (ABSD) program.
The bazaar has about 80 stalls, out of which two are meant for Bhutanese eatery or Bhutanese cuisine and two other is for the Agencies for Prompting Indigenous Craft (APIC), the organization behind the show. An initial rent per stall will be Nu 3, 500 a month.
“For now, 85 applicants have turned up. APIC will sort out more applicants by letting some vendors to share stalls, especially those who deal with the same produce. Stalls have been allocated to vendors on selected Zorig chu Sum produce of Bhutan,” Chief Executive Officer, APIC said.
“If the person who runs the stall wishes to discontinue a stall, he or she must give a notice one month before to APIC,” he added.
He further stated that Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) helped APIC in allocating five stalls at the recent International Trade fair at a cost of Nu 30,000.
Bhutan cannot aim for economic development without preserving traditions that have been safeguarded for centuries. Thus, ABSD not only covers economic development plans, but also incorporates the balanced development philosophy of GNH.
“The Department of Cottage and Small Industry, along with APIC have drawn up an ambitious plan to promote rural production of traditional crafts incorporating development of craft bazaars and clusters to
encourage the production of indigenous crafts and growth in the cultural industry,” The CEO said.
Bhutan’s Culture Baseline Report 2009 states that, the culture industry (including furniture, media, etc.) employed 25,600 people in 2005. The ABSD program for culture focuses on the arts, applied arts and crafts. The planned initiative hopes to bring in a total of 2,100 jobs by the end of 2013. In addition, close to 65 percent of the population engaged in agriculture also engage in manufacturing handicrafts during the non-cultivation season as a means of sustenance thus impacting the income of rural households.
The Cabinet decided in August 2010 to set up a non-profit, largely self sustaining agency for craft and related initiatives. Thus the Agency for Promotion of Indigenous Crafts was established..
The APIC’s responsibilities are to execute craft and related activities including cluster development, craft bazaar, to establish a product innovation design unit, as well as establish linkages regionally and internationally in the craft sector.
The paramount objective of this craft bazaar is to provide a space for artisans to sell their authentic Bhutanese products to the local and tourist market. It is a platform to encourage the growth and sustainability of our indigenous craft as well as celebrate the living cultures of Bhutan.
The craft bazaar will be inaugurated during the forthcoming Thimphu Tshechu in October.
Source: bhutantoday