The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC), in aggressively keeping the government's mandate, which in part is geared toward a rejuvenation of the straw, shell, sponge, paper and coconut handicraft industries, made history with the visit of El Puente GMBH delegates Angela Lepa and Gesa Pertersen to The Bahamas in January of this year. Through this visit, El Puente and the BAIC in conjunction with the Bahamas National Craft Association (BNCA), will introduce Bahamian-made products to the German art and craft markets totaling some $60,000 in sales. This pilot initiative is expected to be the catalyst for future Bahamian-made handicraft and straw products to be introduced to German and other foreign markets. This sale will not only boost foreign exchange through revenue earnings, but also create opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and handicraft artisans.
El Puente is a fair-trade wholesale organization located in Germany that sells authentic traditional products to fair trade shops in Germany and Europe. El Puente is among the pioneers of the fair trade movement and today is the second largest fair trade organization in Germany. ?Since 1972, El Puente has stood as the bridge between north and south and has worked with small businesses and cooperatives in Africa, Asia and Latin America and now The Bahamas.
"BAIC takes its mandate to expand the handicraft sector of this country seriously. Given the value of this sector to the overall economy of The Bahamas, I am committed to extracting more value from it for Bahamian artisans and craft persons. To this end, we are proud to announce the export of approximately $60,000 worth of local handicraft items to Germany," said BAIC Executive Chairman Arnold A. Forbes. "I believe that this transaction is a first of its kind, which heralds new opportunities for Bahamians to begin taking advantage of business around the world. With expanding markets for Bahamian crafts come expanding possibilities, and now we are finally able to see what we believe are the makings of exponential growth and development of the handicraft sector".
BAIC through its Handicraft Development department is committed to helping to expand and introduce Bahamian artisans to local and foreign markets. Prime Minister Perry Christie noted, "It is important to the development of our national identity, and to the deepening of our Bahamian culture that we ensure the highest level of government support to our artists and artisans."
Products exported during this sale include traditional straw bags, sponge, paper, shell craft jewelry and coconut shell craft jewelry.

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