On 30^th June 2010, a round table on Fair Trade & Sustainable Consumption was organised at India International Centre, Max Mauler Marg, New Delhi to launch ProSustain, a project aimed at promoting Fair Trade & Sustainable Consumption in India. HIVOS, Fair Trade Forum– India, IRFT (International Resources for Fairer Trade) & Shop for Change are the partners in the project. The Project is funded by the European Union.

Dr. Christi Fernadez, IAS, Secretary to the President of India participated as the Chief Guest and 90 participants including CSR Heads from Corporate Sector, Representatives of International Organisations, Consumer Groups, Environmental Groups and leading NGOs took part in the program.

Ms Moon Sharma, Secretary of FTF-I and CEO,Tara Projects welcomed the Chief guest and all participants on behalf of Fair Trade Forum-India. She stressed on the need to raise awarness about sustainable production and consumption in India and Fair Trade is a tool to bring change in the society.

 Mr. Nino Page Fernando, Counsellor & Head of Economic Cooperation, EU deligation in India said that European Union has a rich history of cooperation with the government and the people of India. EU is the biggest trade partner of India. The resource and knowledge support of EU enable the Indian producers to conform to the standards and other requirements of EU and thereby help to create new trade opportunities in Europe, for the products from India.

Ms. Roopa Mehta, President FTF-I explained the genesis of Fair trade initiatives in India and at the global level. Mr.I.Mallikarjuna,Executive Director,FTF-I introduced other three Project partners - HIVOS, IRFT & Shop for Change and invited them to share various componants of Pro-Sustain Project with all participants.

Ms. Gaynor, Director IRFT, Mr.Jaishanker Talreja, Vice President-Operations, Shop for Change, Mr.Salim Wali, Finance Manager, HIVOS and Mr. Jayakumar.PV, Programme Manager, FTF-I introduced their organizations and shared four major components and activities of the ProSustain project.

 Mr. S. C. Mittal, Joint Secretary, FTF-I delivered vote of Thanks.

Sustainable Consumption

Fair trade has not had much resonance in India till now, but a group of grass-roots producers is hoping to change that

Livemint.com, Monday June 20th 2010

Free can be the enemy of fair—at least in the opinion of a growing band of activists and consumers in Western countries who seek out products that have been bought from farmers and artisans in the developing world at premium prices and which meet social and environmental standards.

Estimated to be a $4 billion (Rs18,440 crore) industry worldwide, fair trade has not had much resonance in India till n      Read more..