ANDZOA Drives Development, Empowerment Through Ait Ouaouzguit Carpet Festival

Rabat – The seventh edition of the Ait Ouaouzguit Carpet Festival is taking place in Taznakht, a town in Ouarzazate province, from November 20 to 24. This year’s theme, “The Ait Ouaouzguit Carpet: Between Tourism Valorization and Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women Weavers,” focuses on promoting cultural tourism and supporting the economic empowerment of local women.

The National Agency for the Development of Oasis Zones and the Argan Tree (ANDZOA) released a statement speaking about the role it played to support the Ait Ouaouzguit Carpet Festival in celebrating and promoting this tradition, as well as driving development and empowering locals.

This includes contributing to preparing and approving a memorandum of understanding that focuses on creating an integrated and sustainable system to enhance the traditional carpet sector in Taznakht. The agreement aims to strengthen the collaboration between various stakeholders to promote this vital craft, ANDZOA said.

Its key objectives include implementing developmental projects to benefit women weavers and other stakeholders in the carpet value chain and providing technical and financial support to ensure the availability of high-quality raw materials.

The agreement also aims to strengthen the capacities of professional organizations involved in carpet production. The initiative represents a significant step toward improving the livelihoods of women artisans while preserving the cultural heritage of the region, according to ANDZOA.

It was signed by several officials, including the Secretary of State in charge of Handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy, the Governor of Ouarzazate Province, the President of the Draa-Tafilalet Regional Council, the Director-General of ANDZOA, the Director of the Regional Agricultural Investment Office in Ouarzazate, the President of the Chamber of Handicrafts for the Draa-Tafilalet region, and the President of the Takdidift Economic Interest Group in Taznakht.

The signing of the agreement

The ongoing festival celebrates the artistic heritage of the Ait Ouaouzguit carpet and looks to boost efforts to empower women and drive socio-economic development in the region.

The Ait Ouaouzguit carpet is known for its high quality and intricate and colorful designs. This traditional craft is deeply rooted in Moroccan heritage, especially in the Draa-Tafilalet region.

Ouarzazate has become a focal point for development efforts by the agency, ANDZOA noted, arguing that this is due to the vital socio-economic indicators and rich resources it possesses. “The province is rich in human, natural, tourism, and cultural resources that warrant further development and enhancement,” the statement reads.

Since 2014, ANDZOA has supported over 108 projects with a total investment of MAD 318 million for initiatives that have impacted the lives of approximately 304,000 people.