The Handicraft Export Promotion Program participated in the Resource Indonesia Exhibition or Pameran Produksi Ekspor in Jakarta on October 11-15.The booth encompassed a 36 sq meter area carrying 342 items from 22 partners. The event was able to entice orders from 3 buyers (Bulgaria, Poland, and Spain) with the total value of USD 37,000.

The National School for Disabled Students in Jimbaran, Bali, has been for some time getting help from IFC-PENSA. On July 17-22, 2006, HEP team organized a training session for the students who chose handicraft as their extra-curriculum activities and have been utilizing their spare time productively by making greeting cards. The training introduced the students to new materials, tools, designs and production methods. As a next step, HEP will help the School sell the cards and generate additional income.

The handicraft producers who are assisted by HEP held their monthly gathering on June 30, 2006. Board members of the Association of Handicraft Producers and Exporters (ASEPHI) and the management of Bank Kertiawan, the largest rural bank operating in Bali, were invited to the meeting as guest speakers.

HEP’s producers participated in BIWA’s bazaar in mid June in Kuta, Bali. The event resulted in retail sales and attracting new buyers. HEP’s producers along with the other bazaar participants donated some of their products to BIWA’s committee. The donated products will be sold by BIWA and the proceed will be used to help Earthquake victims in Yogyakarta.