Hon Kalon Dolma Gyari of the Central Tibetan Administration today launched an online retail shop for Tibetan handicrafts and artefacts. The online shop, TIBETeSHOP.com is an initiative of the Federation of Tibetan Co-operatives in India (FTCI) Ltd. Lauding the efforts of FTCI to provide innovative services and products, Kalon Dolma Gyari said that this online shop is a step in the right direction, adding that such initiatives are in tune with the 14th Kashag’s principles of unity, innovation and self- reliance. She expressed hope that this online shop would cater to consumers of Tibetan products worldwide, thereby procuring more profit for Tibetan artisans and craftsmen. “Tibetan carpet and handicraft businesses used to flourish once but the profits have since diminished leading to the closure of many of these industries.
I believe it happened because we couldn’t step up with changes in time. Therefore, through such modern and up-to-date initiatives, I hope we can reduce the unemployment rate in our community by creating more market for the products of our Tibetan artefacts,” she said. The launch ceremony was also attended by special guest Mr Siva Reddy, managing director of GOCOOP, an organisation promoting cooperatives globally. The eShop currently has more than 200 different products available online with more to be added soon. The online purchases can be made from 15 countries including the US, UK, France, Japan, Australia and China.
The Federation of Tibetan Co-operatives in India Ltd. is a member of Fair Trade India Forum. FTCI has more than 24000 share members all over India and 15 Tibetan co-operatives under its wing. With the establishment of Tibetan settlements in the late 1950s and early 60s, co-operative societies were simultaneously started in their respective settlements. The various Tibetan co-operative societies were later combined to bring all the societies under one apex body. With the support from Central Tibetan Administration, the federal body of Tibetan co-operative societies was legally registered in 2005 under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 (39 of 2002), as “Federation of Tibetan Co-operatives in India Ltd”.
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