Profile

Fair Trade Egypt ltd (FTE ltd), formerly called Egypt Crafts, was born in 1998 through an initiative from NSCE (North South Consultant Exchange), a consultancy firm working in the field of sustainable development, and COSPE (Cooperzione per lo Sviluppo dei Paesi Emergenti), an Italian NGO working with the Italian Cooperation under the umbrella of the EU Department of Foreign Affairs, with matters related to international solidarity.

The main long-term goal of the projects, which were developed throughout this initiative, is to
alleviate poverty in the marginalized areas of Egypt. Fair Trade Egypt ltd developed to become Egypt's first fair trade producer network & retailer.

FTE ltd's mission is to empower local communities by offering disadvantaged artisans marketing and support services. Fair Trade Egypt promotes the application of fair trade principles as a cultural, social and environmentally responsible business ideal.

FTE ltd is currently working with about 40 producer groups that translate into around 2,700. Egyptian craft artisans that are currently being supported by Fair Trade Egypt to become 100% Fair Trade groups and that are able to sustain crafts that were taught to them by their forefathers. It now provides more than 1,000 quality fairly traded products from these groups while providing them with the capacity building, technical assistance and product development they need to compete in today's fierce market.

As FTE ltd fully adheres to the principles prescribed by the practice of Fair Trade, it has founded along with other members a foundation under the name “Fair Trade Egypt Foundation” (FTE). The foundation has been registered with the Ministry of Social Solidarity on the 3rd of January 2007. The Foundation is set up to provide more support services to the producer organizations as well as enable more Fair Trade advocacy and awareness building in Egypt.