Morocco Dedicated to Preserving Handicraft Heritage with Vocational Training

The North African country already has 69 institutions and training centers for over 60 crafts, but a new government initiative aims to double down on this endeavor.

Rabat — Morocco’s Secretary of State for Handicrafts Lahcen Saadi has said that several Moroccan traditional handicrafts are gradually vanishing.

Speaking during a session of oral questioning at the House of Representatives, Saadi said that it is a shared responsibility to preserve these traditional handicrafts as part of Morocco’s cultural heritage.

He further explained that the only way to keep this cultural heritage alive is through vocational training, as in the past, these were transferred from parents to sons in workshops.

Saadi mentioned that the changes that Moroccan society underwent and the law amendments, prohibiting child labor, contributed to curbing the passing of these crafts from older generations to newer ones.

The minister recalled Morocco’s experience in handicraft-focused vocational training, which has 69 institutions and training centers for over 60 crafts.

The government has plans to raise beneficiaries from training in this sector from 25,000 to 100,000, while giving a significant share to handicrafts.

According to the government’s data, handicrafts revenue constitutes 7% of Morocco’s national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), yielding an estimated MAD 140 billion ($14 billion) annually.

Revenues from production-based handicrafts reach up to MAD 96.3 billion ($9.6 billion), while service-related handicrafts contribute MAD 43.7 billion ($4.3 billion).

The country’s artisanal exports reached MAD 1.11 billion ($111 million) in 2024, and approximately 251 artisans received national quality labels during the same year. The distinguished sector accounts for 275,000 craft units and 2,063 businesses.

Besides their economic contribution to Morocco’s GDP, handicrafts hold historical significance as they convey traditional aspects, telling cultural stories about the North African country.

The well-crafted items also contribute to the country’s cultural legacy, as artisanal products are the fruit of Moroccan artists’ creativity and patience, and the government plans to preserve this precious heritage.