About the Producer

Member of the World Fair Trade Organization

• Located in Indonesia
• Provides training and export facilities to over 100 small-scale Balinese craft workshops
• Established Bali's first Fair Trade village, with projects such as tree plantations, orchards, water tanks, artisan workshop and revolving cow project

Visit the Mitra Bali website

In Bali, many small craft producers are missing out to large, well-established, commission paying craft businesses in the 'great Bali tourism bonanza'. Without direct access to the Bali transport network, it is difficult for small producers with little working capital to access these tourist markets. Yet the contribution of these artisans to the development of the island is substantial, and their artistic output represents the visible face of Balinese Culture, which, ironically, helps to draw tourists and buyers to Bali.

To counter the marginalization of these producers, Mitra Bali works with around 100 small producer groups across the island, marketing their products both locally and internationally, to Fair Trade and commercial buyers. Mitra Bali pays a 50% advance on all orders, and has set up a free Design Centre for producers that provides a library, design consultants and workshops on new trends, technical production, health and safety, and environmentally sustainable production.

Mitra Bali's Fair Trade Village

Abuan village, under the shadow of Batur volcano in Bali has been developed and promoted by Mitra Bali as a Fair Trade village. Visitors to Abuan can see several Mitra Bali projects - an Albesia tree plantation, orchards, children’s playing ground, water tank and pump, an artisan workshop and a ‘revolving cow’ project.

Mr Milih was raised in a peasant family in Abuan. With only elementary schooling he struggled to support his wife and children through farming, so, using handcraft skills learned from his grandfather, he began making traditional bamboo trays to supplement his meagre income.

In 2008 a member of the New Internationalist co-operative visited his village with Mitra Bali staff and met Mr Milih while he was making prototypes for a new bathmat. As a result of that meeting Mr Milih received his first ever order from outside the village, and the bathmats have proven so popular many orders have been placed! He is now expanding the handcraft business and providing employment for other farmers in Abuan, making bamboo baskets and other products.