palprojekte

Promoting the Local Economy

Chideshol, a small village approx. 150 km south of Lhasa, has a textile manufacturing plant where carpets and fabrics have been produced by traditional methods since 1976. The factory generates work for up to 50 villagers and is the main employer in the area. At present, the enterprise is suffering a major crisis.

The fabrics which are coloured with vegetable dyes and woven according to traditional patterns and designs do not sell well because of inferior quality. The machinery is obsolete, the buildings and equipment are deteriorating. The dying vats are presently heated on wood-burning stoves a process which is not ecologically sound and wastes energy.

As a first improvement, the entire plant should be renovated to manufacture products of higher quality. As a second step, a marketing concept for the textiles should be formulated in order to open up new markets for more attractive products. This would establish an economically sound basis to maintain and create long-term jobs for the village community.