National Handicrafts Week Expo Marrakech

CRAFTS - The 5th edition of the National Handicrafts Week (SNA) began February Saturday the 9^th 2019 at the Bab Jdid Esplanade in Marrakech. This is an opportunity to highlight the contribution of this sector in the national economy, said the Minister of Tourism, Air Transport, Handicrafts and Social Economy, Mohamed Sajid. 

"This social and economic event, which continues until February the 17th current, is also an opportunity to pay tribute to artisans, men and women, holders of ancestral know-how and guardians of a unique heritage heritage" , he told MAP, on the occasion of the inauguration of this new edition.

This 5^th edition of the SNA differs from previous editions by a new concept which involves inviting, on the same exhibition space, more than 1,200 exhibitors, from the 12 regions of Morocco. The minister also indicated that the handicrafts sector in Morocco employs nearly 2.3 million people, or nearly 20% of the workforce and contributes 7 to 8% of the gross national product ( GDP). "Craftsmanship is a social sector par excellence because of its contribution to safeguarding our identity, our heritage and our traditions," he insisted.

Here’s a small video of the inauguration published by Medi1TV:

In a similar statement, the Secretary of State for Crafts and Social Economy, Jamila El Moussali, stressed that this event aspires "to enhance the value of Moroccan handicrafts and showcase the wealth ancestral know-how, hence the need to support, accompany and supervise this sector at the institutional and legislative level in order to preserve this heritage ".

"Morocco is one of the few countries endowed with invaluable intangible capital, including handicrafts, a sector that reconciles Moroccans with their heritage, their history, their multiple tributary identity and their civilization". she felt, highlighting the importance of crafts in the national economy, and as a sector of employment especially for the elderly, women, youth and people with special needs. 

She also highlighted efforts to protect artisans and the artisanal product, noting that SNA (Semaine Nationale de l’Artisant – Moroccan Crafts Week) aims at promoting and marketing the products of artisans, but also at training and qualifying the human capital of this sector. . In this sense, Moussali pointed out that SNA devotes a large part of its programs to rural women artisans. 

The exhibition area (50,000 m²), located at the Bab Jdid esplanade, is subdivided into 12 distinct spaces, centralized by doors reflecting the cultural and artisanal characteristics of each region of Morocco. In addition, a space of 600 m² is dedicated to prestige crafts.

The opening day of this event was marked by the organization of a carnival, which furrowed the main arteries of the ocher city. The organizers are also planning another carnival on February 13 as well as fashion shows and workshops dedicated to children, featuring artisans at work.