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Fair Trade at home and abroad
03/12/2008
Funding of £20,000 to help raise awareness of Fair Trade issues in Scotland in the run up to Fair Trade Fortnight in February / March 2009 has been announced.
Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture Linda Fabiani said:
"The Scottish Government is committed to achieving Fair Trade Nation status for Scotland, recognising the effect of our actions on others and our status as a responsible nation. Two of the projects already supported in our latest round of funding for development work in Malawi are based on Fair Trade principles.
"Buying Fair Trade gives producers in developing coutries better terms of trade, better prices and decent working conditions. And it can improve families' quality of life, helping them work themselves out of poverty.
"But Fair Trade is not just about the developing world. All producers are entitled to a fair price for their produce, whether in developing countries or here in Scotland. So it is great to see the Scottish Fair Trade Forum and the National Farmers' Union in Scotland working together to promote fair prices for our farmers' excellent produce and promoting Fair Trade products from developing countries for goods that are not available here."
Chair of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum John McAllion said:
"The SFTF is working in partnership with the Scottish Government toward Fair Trade Nation status for Scotland. This extra funding will help us further enhance awareness of Fair Trade issues and products.
"In such tough economic times, buying local and Fair Trade goods is a great way to get quality products with the added value of knowing you are also supporting sustainable community and environmental development at home and abroad."
Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 23 February - March 8, 2009.
The Fair Trade Scotland Programme is one of the six strands of the Scottish Government's International Development Policy.
The aim of the Fair Trade Scotland Programme is to support and promote Scotland's contribution to Fair Trade with developing countries, working with the Scottish Fair Trade Forum to help Scotland achieve Fair Trade Nation status.