19 June

In co-operation with the Estonian Green Movement, the Foreign Ministry is helping to increase awareness in Estonian society of the importance and influence of fair trade on developing countries.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the goal is to clarify to people what opportunities there are for everyone to support developing countries and help to improve their standard of living by using that country’s fair trade goods. “By preferring to buy fair trade products, an informed consumer can ensure better economic and social conditions for the residents of developing countries,” he added.

Within the framework of the Estonian Green Movement’s project, fair trade club events will be organised in five Estonian cities and will include local volunteers, entrepreneurs, and well-known people.

Paet said that the goal of fair trade is to ensure a fair price for the products that come from small farmers in developing countries and to improve the working conditions of employees in large manufacturing companies. Other points that are emphasised are to not use child labour or waste natural resources in making products.