XVI National Convention on Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

Fair Trade Forum-India (FTF-I) is the national network for Fair Trade in India. It works with more than 250000 producers – artisans and farmers – through more than 100 member organizations, to ensure a dignified income and overall development of artisans, farmers, workers in the unorganized sector. FTF-I contributes to poverty alleviation and sustainable development by building a broader, multi-stakeholder movement for Fair Trade, one that encompasses producers, workers, consumers, and people from various backgrounds; Institutions, organizations, government and the Fair Trade community. FTF-I is organizing the XVI National Convention on Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, with a special focus on textiles, handlooms and handicrafts in Hyderabad from 1st to 3rd December, 2016.

Register yourself before 27th November by sending a mail to ftfindia@gmail.com or by calling the organizers on 011‐41328730.

Objectives

Fair Trade Forum – India (FTF-I) is committed to promote skill development and entrepreneurship in the Fair Trade Network by aligning with the national mission on skilling India. This is to complement Fair Trade’s market‐based approach and an ethical support mechanism to augment the government’s efforts towards poverty alleviation through sustainable livelihoods generation.

Linking Fair Trade Organisations with Govt initiatives
Evolving partnership between buyers and corporates with Fair Trade Organisations
Creating awareness on how to become part of Fair Trade movement
Policy inputs for state and centre Govt
Understating skill eco‐system in India and evolving partnership
To strengthen the capacity of artisans/producers and entrepreneurs by sharing information about and
discussing mechanisms of availing various government schemes.
The convention will also throw light on latest schemes and opportunities available in Skill Development and entrepreneurship

Meet Fair Traders from across the world
More than 100 participants from various backgrounds
Meet CEOs of various Fair Trade Organizations from across India
Government officials, NGOs and industry leaders
Artisans, craftspersons and entrepreneurs from various craft clusters

Discussions will focus on

Opportunities for entering into Fair Trade market for the companies
Opportunities for Fair Trade organisations to enter into mainstream market and e‐commerce space
Taking opportunity of various GOI initiatives to promote capacity building and Entrepreneurship in the Fair Trade
Network
Scaling up of existing models for sustainable development of minorities, tribal groups, artisans and integration with skills development initiatives
Skill Development Schemes of the Government in the Handloom and Handicrafts Sector
Technological developments to the aid of Fair Traders‐ Branding/marketing through digital media and e‐ commerce
Role of banking in Financing to artisans under various Schemes
Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs Experts will update on FCRA, new company rules and CGST

Expected outcomes

Empowerment of at least 40 artisans/producers to take up Entrepreneurial roles
Capacity building of at least 20‐30 existing entrepreneurs Sharing of best practices
Forging effective participation Networking among government officials, successful and contemporary entrepreneurs
Awareness about various Government Schemes in the Textiles, Handlooms and Handicrafts sector, latest knowledge on FCRA rules, CGST and Taxation