Laayoune: Inauguration of the Specialized Institute of Traditional Arts

The inauguration ceremony of this specialized institute of traditional arts, which took place in the presence of the Wali of the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, Governor of the province of Laayoune, Abdeslam Bekrate, elected officials, and heads of external services, is part of the celebration of the 49th anniversary of the Green March.



Built on an area of 2,800 m², this institute was realized by the Regional Council, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy, for a total cost of 24.8 million dirhams (MDH), of which 11.8 MDH was dedicated to equipment.

This training institute, which is part of the integrated development program of the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region (Handicrafts and social economy sector), provides training in two main components, namely art and production crafts (Sewing, leather goods, goldsmithing) and service crafts (artistic carpentry, building electricity, and plumbing).

It includes, in particular, a multimedia room, a library, a trainers' room, a meeting room, practical workshops, and classrooms, in addition to a seminar room. The duration of studies is two years, leading to the obtaining of the Technician diploma or the Qualification diploma.

In a statement to the press, Mr. Essaadi indicated that the Specialized Institute of Traditional Arts is called upon to play a leading role in the training and upgrading of human resources, specifying that 500 young people and women from the region will benefit from it.

The government official also stated that this project, which is part of the new development model for the Southern provinces, aims to safeguard traditional art trades and develop the handicraft sector, particularly in the southern regions of the Kingdom.

Furthermore, he noted that the organization of such Regional Handicraft Fairs constitutes an opportunity for artisans from different regions of the Kingdom to market their products and improve their income, emphasizing the efforts made by the supervisory department and the various territorial actors in terms of support and development of local handicraft trades.

Furthermore, Mr. Essaadi and the delegation accompanying him kicked off the Regional Handicraft Fair, aiming to create a dynamic to strengthen the sector and raise awareness of the efforts made by professionals to develop their products.

Organized by the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra Chamber of Handicrafts, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy and the Laayoune commune, this event, which will continue until November 7, brings together more than 50 exhibitors representing cooperatives and artisans from the four provinces of the region, as well as other regions of the Kingdom.

On this occasion, they issued training certificates and technical tools to about twenty artisans from the region in the field of goldsmithing, who benefited from the training, support, and accompaniment program initiated by the Regional Chamber of Handicrafts, in coordination with the Regional Directorate of Handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy.

In addition, Mr. Essaadi and the delegation accompanying him visited the Laayoune handicraft complex where two projects related to traditional sewing are located, namely "Dar Nassij" and "Dar Derraâa," which employ 40 and 50 graduates from apprenticeship training centers, respectively.

Set up by the Regional Directorate of Handicrafts, with the support of several partners, "Dar Nassij" is distinguished by the union of four cooperatives that have chosen to collaborate to share their experiences, increase productivity, and improve their competitiveness at the regional and national levels.

Regarding the "Dar Derraâa" project in Laayoune, supported by the "Al Jil El Jadid" sewing cooperative, its objective is to promote and preserve the sustainability of this traditional garment, to equip the city of Laayoune with a model manufacturing unit, and to improve production techniques and working conditions for artisans.