As a membership based non governmental organization (NGO), the Central Asian Crafts Support Association (CACSA) serves as an umbrella for its over 50 members craft development centers and NGOs from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan by providing communication links, marketing support, product development training, sales opportunities, and other needed services.

In 1994, the American NGO Aid to Artisans (ATA) began a four-year program in Central Asia focused on advancing the socio-economic condition of Central Asian artisans and expanding cultural awareness through the development of regional crafts centers. At the conclusion of the program, these crafts centers decided to continue ATA's efforts and organized themselves into the founding members of CACSA. With the continued support of ATA and other local and international organizations and corporations, CACSA has made great strides in achieving its mission .

CACSA  has following objectives  ; 

• Regularly organizes craft fairs throughout Central Asia, including semi-annual craft fair in Almaty, Kazakhstan and annual Silk & Spices Festival in Bukhara, Uzbekistan to boost up the regional market as well as to attract foreign buyers.
• Established and maintains communication network to facilitate correspondence with and amongst member organizations providing service of information exchange through telephone, email and newsletter.
• Provide a platform  for the discussions of problems common to artisans and artisan support organizations and identify the solutions to such problems by lobbying and advocacy to concerned organizations.
• To strengthen the networking and solidarity at national, regional and international level  that helps the revival of craft culture and indegenous skills.

  CACSA's  dedicated staff and team of volunteers are building on recent successes to reach more artisans in need of assistance, target new markets, enhance training programs, lobby for artisans' rights, and develop other related projects.

Traditional arts and crafts have a viable role to play in the economic and cultural development of Central Asia. In the great tradition of the Silk Road, CACSA aims to extend and broaden lines of trade, communication, and cooperation amongst the peoples of Central Asia and beyond by nurturing the development of Central Asian craftsmanship. CACSA is an open membership association. Any organization, whose activities are in line with CACSA's mission, can apply for membership.

CACSA carries out its activities under main three components namely

• Cultural Awareness and Cooperation

Through international exchange visit and exposer to artisans, advocacy of artisan's right to local and regional level and by sponsoring participation in international crafts fair, exhibition, auctions and contest. 

• Socio-economic Development

Through implementing training programs on marketing, e-commerce, sales and product develoopment while linking artisan with micro credit focusing on artisan's special need that lead to economic empowerment of the artisans. 

• Communication and Promotion.  

Through publication and circulation of promotional materials such as brochure, news letter and leaflets including using Internet and web technologies. Expanding international marketing opportunities while connecting artisan with buyers directly by coordinating buyers seller meeting, facilitating communication and providing database

 For more information on this or any aspect of CACSA, please contact cacsa (at) infotel.kg