"I wouldn't lean too much on the idea that export markets are just available in the liberal "first world" (im assuming western). For example, there is a HUGE market IN Africa for Khanga, Ktenge, Vitenge (fabrics), carvings etc - that are produced In Kenya, Tanzania and to some degree Uganda, that are exported to Azania, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, African Diaspora etc (so much so that even the Chinese have started replicating them). The idea also that micro-finance is something that's exclusively controlled by the West is another assumption that is not wholly correct - there are many instances where National and Co-operative Banks, have vibrant micro-finance products, and communities have developed their own system of savings and loans where money is collected by and loaned to other community members through strategic and systematized "merry go round" financing systems."
* This article was specifically about the Grameen Bank and how it is in many ways replicating the traditional neo-liberal practices and assumptions - not micro-finance in general. I agree that micro-finance can be a good idea when done correctly without strings attached by outside controllers.
