A THREE member group from the Port Vila Community Handicraft Association of Vanuatu are currently in Honiara showcasing their products at the Women’s Expo, at the National Art Gallery grounds.
The group is being led by the associations President, Ms Martha Malosu.
The intention of their visit is according to their own scheduled plan, and being part of the Expo is upon a request they made to the organizers to sell and display their products.
In an interview with the Solomon Star yesterday, Ms Malosu said, they are very happy to be part of the expo, linking other women in Honiara in selling their products.
“We are here to display 100 percent locally designed products straight from Vanuatu.
“Being part of this expo is great, and we are pleased to be part of it and also joining other creative mothers in Solomon Islands.
“In Vanuatu, our association has involved a lot in micro-finance activities,” she said.
She said that, the aim of the association is to promote genuine products from Vanuatu and not anywhere else.
“Coming here to Honiara will ease the cost of women is Solomon Islands going to do shopping in Port Vila.
“So, it is a chance to buy Vanuatu products when we are here,” Ms Malosu told the Solomon Star.
Displayed in their three stalls were the lovely hand painted Vanuatu dresses, woven baskets, necklaces, wooden carvings, souvenirs and many other products from Vanuatu that showcases their creativity.
Ms Malosu said, selling such products is not new to her team because they have been doing it for a long time coming, since Vanuatu is a tourist destination.
She added, the only challenge they faced is how they do the pricing of the products by converting Vatu to the Solomon Islands dollar and also the weather here.
The group returns to Vanuatu this weekend.
By RONALD TOITO’ONA
