January 29, 2017 marks the official opening of the World Fair Trade Organization Asia (WFTO Asia) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. “WFTO Asia has finally landed in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Thank you Payap University for welcoming us and for allowing us to be part of this very good academic institution’s vision and mission of pursuing people’s development. We celebrate today’s achievement and hope to further advance the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) Asia objective in supporting and enabling  dedicated Fair Trade Organizations in Asia to deliver Fair Trade and to seek greater equity in international trade. I look forward to future collaboration to pursue our Asian goal” – Mr. Chitra Bahadur KC, President WFTO Asia.
The event was attended by the Assistant Permanent Secretary of Chiang Mai Governor, President of Payap University, Prof. Sompan Wongdee, various Consuls in Chiang Mai, and representatives from Universities in Chiang Mai, all WFTO Asia Board of Directors and WFTO Asia members in Chiang Mai and other invited guests from the Business community in Thailand.
“Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seek greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South. Fair Trade Organizations, backed by consumers, are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.” (Fair Trade definition agreed by the Fair Trade networks in 1998)