News 29 of 50

The Lao Sao-Ban Shop has just come aboard Pan Asia's e-commerce shopping mall. Established and managed by the Participatory Development Training Centre (PADETC) in Vientiane, it features an initial offering of beautiful silk decorative items which are handwoven by rural Laotian women.

The Participatory Development Training Centre (PADETC) is a not-for-profit organisation managed and run by a group of Lao volunteers working to help the Lao people solve their own problems for sustainable living. PADETC works in a number of different areas, including participatory media for sustainable development, appropriate technology, youth, and micro-enterprise. The on-line Sao-Ban Shop is part of PADETC's work helping villagers to establish small businesses producing and selling their traditional handicrafts and organic products. PADETC has a network of producers throughout Laos whom the organisation assists with marketing. The Sao-Ban Shop was established In Vientiane to provide an outlet for village producers to sell their products.

"Joining Pan Asia's ecommerce mall is a valuable opportunity for PADETC to introduce the international community to Lao products, while at the same time helping village producers to find new markets as a way to generate income to sustain themselves", says Dr Sombath Somphone, PADETC's Director.

2002-03-27

News 29 of 50