AHPADA - ASEAN Handicraft Promotion & Development Association
AHPADA is a Non-Governmental Organization associated with ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It works to create an awareness of Southeast Asian craft products and its artisans, and acts as a regional forum for craft organizations and practitioners in the ASEAN member states to address issues concerning the revitalization, promotion and development of crafts.
AHPADA's activities include the organization of seminars and workshops to educate on Southeast Asian craft traditions and practice and to deliberate on heritage preservation, craft innovation and product development and promotion. It also organizes and participates in craft-related exhibitions and trade fairs.
Goals
To be a leading authority in conserving Southeast Asian craft traditions and skills and in developing and promoting Southeast Asian handicrafts and artisans.
To support ASEAN’s Strategic Plan on Culture and Arts 2016-2025 by facilitating intercultural contact and collaboration, engendering a sense of ownership for the cultural heritage of ASEAN, and leveraging on culture for inclusive and sustainable development.
CONSERVE
–
To ensure craft heritage, skills and material knowledge are documented and communicated, and that their continued practice is assured by cultivating the relevance of these skills.
DEVELOP
–
To establish a network of craft artisans, experts, government and non-governmental organizations, to enable knowledge and experience sharing and collective support to develop appropriate artisanal skills and products.
Promote
–
To promote and raise the awareness of these craft products through participation in seminars, exhibitions and trade fairs.
To stimulate the creation of employment opportunities for artisan communities, many in rural areas, and to strengthen the status of craft artisans, within and beyond their communities.
Asean unity
–
To foster ASEAN unity within and outside the region through the promotion of its crafts with their long-lasting cultural threads that bind the region.
AHPADA is an ASEAN accredited civil society organisation.
“Crafts are a repository of the creative expression of the traditional knowledge and skills of mankind.”
EDRIC ONG | honorary president
History
AHPADA was established following the International Workshop on Handicraft for Export held in conjunction with CONEX '81 in Bangkok in February 1981. On 24 March 1981, the organization was officially launched in Jakarta by its founding members, consisting of representatives from both government and private sectors from Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. This was followed by membership from Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, whilst Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam joined in 1999. The headquarters of AHPADA is registered in Bangkok, Thailand with the presidency of the organization rotating every two years between its member organizations.
Ready to participate?
Join
