History

The correspondence office of Equitable Marketing Association (EMA) is at 30A Tanupukur Road, Kolkata 700031, West Bengal, India, and its registered office is at 82, Baburam Ghosh Road, Kolkata 700040, West Bengal, INDIA. The Development Centre is located at Village Uttarbhag, P.O. South Ramnagar, Baruipur, District 24-Parganas (South) PIN 743387, West Bengal, India, about 40 km from central Kolkata.

EMA is a Fair Trade Organisation which operates from India, and caters to buyers abroad. After 33 years in the Fair Trade business, it has just made a foray into the commercial domestic market to scale up its activity and grow further. As a Fair Trade Organisation, EMAÂ’ chief concern has been the uplift of the economically challenged, the physically challenged, women, the minority communities, and through its producers and its own Development Centre, not only given the poor artisans and employees a livelihood, but showcased their talent in craftsmanship internationally. That has helped them to earn their well-deserved dignity as well.

EMA was established in 1977 with the joint effort of seven cooperatives with 234 craftspersons and 9 individual social activists. At present, EMA has 42 corporate members, 6 founder members, 71 staff members and 96 individual artisans. All the members constitute the general body of this Fair Trade Organisation. The capacity and size of EMA has grown steadily over the years. At present, our clientele spreads all over Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

In October 2009, it entered the domestic market in an effort to upgrade and grow with the collaboration of a similar association from Mumbai, India, Asha Handicrafts with their brand name Karigar, and was launched with a media tieup with Star Jalsha, the leading Bengali television channel.

EMAÂ’ professional, fair and transparent approach has been rewarded with a good reputation in the field of exports. Our biennial SAR (Self Appraisal Report) to the monitoring authority WFTO (World Fair Trade Organisation) this year earned EMA a very positive and appreciative notice.