AID grant no. 521-0179-G-00-5039-00 to Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere to provide support for improvement in the development, production and commercial marketing of export quality Haitian crafts

CERC activities will be in the areas of: (1) product development, (2) marketing and promotion, (3) business management (for small enterprises), (4) credit, (5) raw material supplies, and (6) information dissemination. First, the CERC will provide advisory services in product design to enable crafts producers to meet export market requirements and ensure quality control. Long-term TA will be given in such areas as weaving, photography, industrial product design, jewelry, and ceramics. Second, the CERC will help artisans export their products through giftware markets and at nine majoir gift shows in the United States. Zin d"Art-Retail - a Port-au-Prince marketing outlet developed under 5210169 - will be utilized as a test market prior to shipping the products overseas. Third, a long-term advisor will help small crafts businesses that lack access to other management training toi improve their financial management and accounting capabilities. Fourth, the CERC will provide short-term credit to crafts producers at commercial rates. Loans requests in excess of $3,000 will be referred to other lending institutions. Fifth, the CERC will establish a revolving fund to purchase raw materials. However, as sales increase, artisans will be encouraged to find their own sources of raw materials. Lastly, the CERC will serve as a central source of information on, e.g., production techniques, customer lists, market trends, and customs.