"Quality is the main condition to export any item," said Andrea Snyder, an expert in product development in handicrafts for exporting to North America, while conducting the daylong workshop on market readiness for exporting handicrafts to the US.

Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) organised the workshop in collaboration with South Asia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF) at the Anchor Tower in Dhaka.

Snyder suggested the entrepreneurs intending to export to pack their products in a way so that it can reach undamaged to the customers. They should also use the method of packing that is easy to handle for users, she said.

The American expert also told the entrepreneurs to acquire adequate computer knowledge. "They must have the access in the Internet to catch the market," she said.

Snyder said the American people always like to use handicraft of new designs which should be another area of emphasis for the prospective exporters.

She advised the entrepreneurs to keep regular contact with the trade division of the US Embassy in Dhaka.

A total of 35 entrepreneurs specialised in handicrafts from different parts of the country took part at the workshop with a view to search market for their products made of jute and clay as well as nakshi kantha.

Design developers from BSCIC also participated at the workshop.

According to Snyder, Bangladesh exported pottery worth $12,355, crochet fabric worth $5,150, made-up textile fabrics worth $1,63,022 and cotton fabrics worth $62,665 to the US market in 1997.

Coordinated by Shahruk Rahman the workshop was also attended by WEAB Vice President Sajeda Minhaj Mukul and two members Asfa Hossain and Mahmuda Haque Chowdhury.