|
The JOBS project, since its commencement,
has assisted in developing various sectors including leather goods,
footwear, home textiles, floor coverings, and diversified jute
products. Recently it added handmade paper products, diversified
coconut products, personal protective equipment, electrical
products, and information technology to its target sectors. The
selection criteria for the sectors is based on the following :
-
Their products are exportable;
-
They draw on labor- intensive production chains;
-
They rely on locally procurable raw materials;
-
They have potential to double or triple their worker’s
compensation; and
-
They can generate employment for women.
The vision of JOBS to develop each targeted
sector has pressed them to apply a vigorous, market-driven
methodology: And these include everything from locating an
international market, getting buy-in from entrepreneurs, inviting an
international expert to produce samples for the target market,
participating in trade fairs to obtain orders, developing a skilled
work force through cluster-based training, linking backwards the
entrepreneur/lead buyer to the clusters (or linking small and medium
enterprises with upstream micro-enterprises), and facilitating
entrepreneurs’ access to finance.
At present, JOBS is working in this
following sectors:
|
