The Minister of Handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy, Fatima Marouane, proceeded, on Monday in Marrakech, to the distribution of technical equipment for the benefit of associations and cooperatives in the handicraft sector falling under the region.

This operation, endowed with a financial envelope of 580,000 DH, was able to benefit 9 cooperatives and 8 associations operating in the sectors of sewing, weaving, embroidery, art ironwork, bakery, and pastry, based notably in Tamslouht, Sidi Mokhtar, Al Haouz, and Marrakech. This operation of acquisition of technical equipment for the benefit of artisans has the objective of upgrading and developing handicraft products as well as improving the working conditions of artisans and their income, and this through the strengthening of their production capacity and the satisfaction of market needs. It is also part of the support and accompaniment actions carried out by the ministry at the level of the different links of the production chain for the benefit of mono-artisans, who constitute an important part of the productive fabric of handicrafts.

Speaking on this occasion, Ms. Marouane made it known that this operation aims as much at supporting artisans as at rehabilitating the sector in a way that responds to market demand. She stressed that this action is part of the ministry's policy aimed at supporting and strengthening the capacities of artisans who constitute essential actors for the sector and participate, consequently, in the socio-economic promotion of the region. Ms. Marouan noted that the handicraft sector reflects the image of our national and ancestral heritage, stressing the imperative of valuing its products for better representativeness both at the national and global levels.

The handicraft sector, which employs more than 2.3 million people, or nearly 20% of the active population in Morocco, generates a turnover of more than 83 billion dirhams.