This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Hibapress
The Secretary of State for Crafts and Social and Solidarity Economy, Lahcen Essaadadi, assured on Tuesday in the House of Representatives, that the development of craft promotion programs will be drawn up The opportunity of the organization by Morocco of the 2025 Football African Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup.
In a presentation on “crafts and the social and solidarity economy” presented to the commission of the productive sectors, Mr. Essaadi stressed the importance of granting, in the field of investment, particular attention to the crucial role What could be played with ancestral Moroccan heritage during these two international events, through the various branches and activities of crafts.
On the economic level, he continued, these sports competitions can constitute an opportunity to energize key sectors such as crafts, social and solidarity economy and tourism, in addition to attracting significant investments and Generate jobs, both direct and indirect.
As for the cultural component, these events represent an exceptional opportunity to highlight the richness of Moroccan heritage and local artisanal creativity, noted the Secretary of State.
Mr. Essaadi also said that the action plan planned for 2025/2026 and 2030 includes the development of exhibition and sales infrastructure in the form of spaces dedicated to craft products in cities Hosts, with demonstrations allowing visitors to observe craftsmen at work, as well as mobile stands and souvenir shops in stadiums and fan zones.
Moroccan craftsmanship, with its production and service aspects, occupies an essential place in the national socio-economic landscape, he argued.
Mr. Essaadi, in this sense, recalled that in 2024, craft exports exceeded 1.11 billion dirhams, up 3%, reporting the pursuit of market diversification. He also noted that pottery remains at the top of exports, followed by traditional carpets and clothes.
The Secretary of State indicated that since October 2024, the emphasis has been placed on two major sites for the development of the sector, namely the structuring and strengthening of its organization, as well as the increase in its sales at the national levels And international, via the continuation of the implementation of construction sites of the national craft and social coverage, in addition to the supervision and structuring of craftsmen within professional bodies.
At the same time, it highlighted the efforts made to facilitate access to quality raw materials, improve production, protect craft products and support their certification under the “Heritage of Morocco” label, in addition to the Continuation of the program for preserving crafts, the development of production and marketing infrastructure, improving vocational training and strengthening the skills of craftsmen.
In this context, Mr. Essaadi said that apprenticeship training programs have been developed and adapted to the needs of the sector to target 34,000 registered in 2025, against 19,000 in recent years.
These training courses will aim for new professions and will be aligned with the requirements of the labor market, by supporting the professional integration of graduates and by generalizing design, innovation and digital marketing in all training centers.
With regard to the sector of the social and solidarity economy, the Secretary of State affirmed that it constitutes a lever for creation of wealth and employment, in particular among young people and women, as well as in the rural world.
In this regard, he specified that the action of the ministry is based on three axes (diversification and orientation of interventions to respond to new challenges, structuring and organization of actors by exploiting territorial potential, and energization of the social economy through the integration of new operators).
Mr. Essaadi presented several programs dedicated to this sector, including the “Moazara” program aimed at supporting the organizations of the social and solidarity economy, which made it possible to finance 577 projects, to create 11,125 direct jobs and to consolidate around 18,600 posts existing.
He also mentioned the “Tahfiz Niswa” program, intended to promote female entrepreneurship in the social and solidarity economy, with the objective of creating 400 cooperatives for women.
