‘Made in Sri Lanka’ crafts popular among international tourists: Dubai’s Fakih

• Fakih strengthens presence in SL
• Selects Lankan wood supplier for JV
• Hits local circuit looking for fresh supplies
• Educates local craftsmen on going global

The Dubai-based Fakih Collection, the multinational manufacturer of specialised gift items, souvenirs and handicrafts, is now in town scouting for craft provisions from Sri Lanka for its demanding supply chain.

“My products sourced from Sri Lanka are fast moving among international tourists. The ‘Made in Sri Lanka’ label is fast gaining ground in Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s sprawling tourist club area. Viet Nam just received our first ‘Made in Sri Lanka’ labelled handicraft shipment,” revealed N.P. Fakih, the Managing Director of Dubai-based $ 300 Mn Fakih Group, on 11 November at the Cinnamon Lakeside.

“Fakih Collection is also one of the firms providing large scale employment opportunities to rural women handicrafters across Asia, if not in the whole world. We are also world’s largest eco-friendly handicraft maker,” Fakih revealed.

“We now want to enlist wood supplies from Sri Lanka. Wood is a key raw material for us and Sri Lankan wood is of good quality. Having visited some wood (supply) factories in Sri Lanka we have now selected a supplier from Ethkandura in Elpitiya. I am planning to invest in this firm substantially so that we have a bigger stake in Sri Lanka,” said Fakih, who has bagged many awards from various governmental and non-governmental organisations for enlisting grassroots through his unique charity business exports model. Fakih Group employs 5,300 employees across 14 countries, with a considerable number of them being women in households on a self-employment basis, to supply the growing demand volumes in its 28 international markets. The Group uses the kiosk vending model and in Dubai alone runs 28 kiosks. Among the 5,300 employees are 3,655 handicraft creators exclusively working for the company in Asia.Among the countries supplying the more than 290,000 items-strong Fakih Group multicultural gifts and souvenirs portfolio are UAE (467 items), Philippines (3,600 items), Thailand (22,467 items), Vietnam (11,359 items), Turkey (1,310 items), Morocco (12,290 items), Nepal (2,315 items), Cambodia (1,310 items), African collection (3,590 items), Indonesia (11,274 items), India (55,924 items), Egypt (1,936 items), Yemen (3,600 items), and China (160,128 items).