Saidpur Enterprises

Saidpur Enterprises derives its present status from Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a relief and development agency of the Mennonite Churches of Canada and USA that has been operating in Bangladesh since its independence in 1971. In 1976, MCC formed the entity Action Bag Handicrafts and in 1986, Eastern Screen Printers as distinct income generating concerns. MCC managed both the concerns under their job creation program towards grooming for the long term sustainability of those projects. Saidpur Enterprises is a Trust formed and registered in 1991, to take over and independently carry on with the job creation project of MCC. The Trust aims at improving the quality of life of the marginalized segment of the woman population at Saidpur and the adjoining areas through organizing and developing them as skilled workforce and thus seeking to enable them to move from income insecurity to economic self-sufficiency. Saidpur Enterprises deals in handicrafts and specializes in producing various kinds of bags from jute and cotton fabric, printing on cards on handmade paper, jute and cotton fabric, boards, wrapping papers and aesthetic value products. They have their own production facilities and workers. It is a guaranteed member of World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and an affiliate of WFTO. The bulk of its export business is done through and with its WFTO partners. Its production process is labour intensive and environment friendly. It uses local and renewable fiber, often recycling those. The Board of Trustees presently consists of 7 members of whom 4 Trustees including the Chairperson were initially appointed by MCC as listed in the Trust Deed, and 3 others were admitted by the Board later due to resultant vacancies. The Board of Trustees meet around four times a year to discuss various issues, such as future policy and business strategy. For day to day decisions, Saidpur Enterprises is run by a General Manager who is held responsible by the Board of Truste