Womens’ groups from the 13 districts that participated in the Fiar Fair organized by the Secretary of State for Equality Promotion (SEPI) were disappointed with the event.
The Coordinator of Inan Terus Nain Group, Adelina Freitas da Costa, said during the five days the fair was held none of the leaders went to buy the products they had on sale.
“We are upset because our goods weren’t purchased,” da Costa said at the Dili Convention Centre, Dili, where the fair was held.
She added he group sells mainly wallets, telephone covers and other products made of tais (traditional cloth).
Group Terus Nain was established by seven widows in 2008 so they could generate income for themselves and their families by using their creativity and develop products they can sell.
The group received $3,000 from SEPI in 2008 to establish themselves as a collective group in their village.
The Coordinator of Buka Rasik Group, Candida Gusmão, from Viqueque, also felt the fair was not productive and blames Timorese for not loving national products.
“We carried our products from the districts but no one bought them. Not even the Timorese want to buy our products,” she added.
She urged SEPI if it organizes the same even again in future to mobilize society domestically including investors and the leadership such as Members of Parliament (MPS) to go and buy their products.
Buka Rasik sells clay pots, plates and jugs.
The group was established in 2010 by ten members consisting of nine women and one man.
Fiar Fair was organized by SEPI to commemorate the 36th National Woman’s Day in November at the Dili Convention Centre.
