Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism, in partnership with the House of Crafts, has launched the first phase of three support initiatives designed to enhance the competitiveness of artisans.
The House of Crafts is a public institution with its own legal identity and financial independence. Its primary role is to enhance the visibility of Moroccan craft products nationally and internationally. Established in 1957 by the late King Mohammed V, it operates autonomously.
According to the ministry’s statement, these programs were developed in December of last year to address the emerging challenges caused by rising competition and shifting consumer trends, both nationally and internationally.
The programs include the excellence program, the export support program, and the aggregator support program.
The excellence program focuses on carpet, pottery, and ceramic sectors, aiming to structure production units by supporting them across the entire value chain.
The export support program assists operators in accessing international markets, while the aggregator support program strengthens aggregation capabilities to improve individual artisans’ production and marketing capacity.
The ministry further added that the first group of 103 selected artisans will undergo several theoretical training sessions and workshops in key areas such as research and development, market access, financing, productivity, and digitalization.
The training sessions will extend until December 2024.
“Our commitment to handicrafts aims at modernizing the sector while preserving its unique authenticity,” stated Minister of Tourism, Fatim-Zahra Ammor. “This necessitates a crucial enhancement of artisans’ competitiveness.”
“We are adopting an inclusive approach that targets both individual artisans and those operating within artisanal enterprises,” she added.
Read Also: Moroccan Exports of Handicrafts Increased by 21% in July 2022
The initiative is truly a collaborative endeavor. Seven partners, both local and international, are involved in executing these programs.
The international organization Label Step will oversee the labeling of carpet artisans to boost their global reach.
Meanwhile, the Academy of Traditional Arts and the Technical Center for Textiles and Clothing in Casablanca will provide technical training to strengthen artisans’ skills.
The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) will contribute with its research and development expertise, deploying its laboratories to support certain artisanal sectors.
Additionally, Moroccan Association of Exporters (ASMEX) will facilitate the expansion of artisans into international markets, opening new channels for marketing their creations.
“Start-Up Maroc” will host young artisanal enterprises for an incubation program focused on digital transformation.
Eight selected artisans will participate in a residency program at the prestigious Faenza Ceramic Center in Italy, concentrating on enamel techniques, firing methods, and improving the quality of pottery and ceramic products.
According to a 2010 report by USAID, the handicraft sector in Morocco employs over 2.1 million people, constituting 20% of the active workforce.
Handicrafts, which incorporate significant cultural elements, account for 16% of Morocco’s workforce. This sector is strategically important for human development, poverty alleviation, and combating social exclusion.
For its next edition, applications will be open later in the year, with the program slated to begin in early 2025.
