Souvenir sales up in Dili

DILI, East Timor (JP): As East Timor opens up to the world, inhabitants with an eye for business have turned to selling souvenirs.

One shop, right in front of the Dili Sports Stadium on Jl. Bispo Medeiros, is called "Toko Dili". It stocks curios from all 13 regencies in the province.

Salem Musalam Sagram says it has been his long-time dream to own the souvenir center he established in 1987. It is now owned by PT Karya Timor Agung and PT Wisata Timtim Pertiwi.

"I travel to villages to collect handicrafts," he explained pointing to the assortment of old and new cloth, handbags, sandalwood fans and the Portuguese perfume, minyak marline. Timor coffee and honey from the Ainbaro regency are also on the shelves.

Sagram recruits carvers, weavers and sewers, and provides them with capital so they can work in their respective villages.

Sagram sells these artisan's handicrafts for between Rp 600,000 (US$272.50) to Rp 1,600,000.

"Most buyers are domestic tourists from Bali, Surabaya, Bandung, Jakarta and Sumatra," explained Sagram, who actively promotes his business at various Jakarta fairs.

He claims his shop is the sole provider of souvenirs from East Timor.

"I'm looking for a business partner outside the province," said Sagram, who is now aiming at the export market. (Yacob J. Herin)