A number of small businesses were by the second day of the Smart Partnership International Dialogue, already getting orders from potential customers both local and international, the Lesotho News Agency reports.

Marketing Manager of the Lesotho Co-operative Handicrafts Limited, Mrs. 'Mathato Lerotholi said in an interview with LENA that various local companies in Lesotho have already placed orders for sand pots and handicrafts. Malaysia has ordered a large number of Basotho hats.

'We also have a potential market for Seshoeshoe dresses and shawls in the country, as individuals are placing orders in large numbers' she added.

The Dialogue has given them an opportunity to share ideas with other business counterparts and to advertise their products to people of different countries within a shorter period of time and at lesser expense, she said

The Lesotho Co-operative Handicrafts is the producer and marketing outlet for ethnic handicrafts.

11 November 2005