Sana'a – Saba:
The Ministers of Culture and Tourism, Dr. Ali Al-Yafai; Economy, Industry, and Investment, Engineer Muin Al-Maqhari; and Youth and Sports, Dr. Mohammed Al-Mawlid, reviewed on Monday the products of artisans affiliated with the Heritage and Cultural Development Fund.
Accompanied by Dr. Issam Al-Sanini, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Acting Executive Director of the Heritage and Cultural Development Fund, the ministers toured the fund’s workshops for textiles, handicrafts, pottery, gemstones, and agate. They observed the high-quality crafts and products made by local artisans, which meet competitive standards to rival imported goods.
The ministers were briefed on the conditions of the artisans and workshops, the challenges they face, ways to expand and develop their activities.
Dr. Al-Yafai emphasized the ministry’s commitment to supporting and developing handicrafts by enhancing artisans’ skills through training workshops, enabling them to produce high-quality, affordable goods. He highlighted the importance of backing handicrafts in line with the directives of the revolutionary and political leadership, as well as the government’s self-sufficiency program, to harness youth potential and boost the national economy.
He noted that the ministry prioritizes protecting , promoting traditional crafts, improving artisans’ livelihoods, and preserving Yemen’s cultural identity. He also stressed the role of the fund’s workshops and carpentry unit in creating job opportunities for youth and safeguarding Yemen’s heritage crafts from extinction.
Dr. Al-Yafai underscored the need for coordination between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Economy, and the Ministry of Youth to support such projects and advance the handicraft industry.
For their part, the Ministers of Economy and Youth praised the artisans’ high-quality products, which reflect Yemeni heritage and culture. They affirmed the importance of handicrafts in strengthening the local market and achieving self-sufficiency, expressing readiness to collaborate with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to support these initiatives.
Minister Al-Maqhari highlighted the Ministry of Economy’s measures to restrict imports of certain foreign goods to promote local products. He urged artisans to focus on quality to meet citizens' needs. He also mentioned the upcoming launch of the "Mu’tamad" platform, which will feature certified products, including those by local artisans, to promote and market Yemeni goods.
Additionally, the ministers reviewed plans for the upcoming Comprehensive Handicraft Village project, which the Ministry of Culture and Tourism aims to establish in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy. The project will include factories, workshops, and exhibitions to enhance local production and self-sufficiency.
Al-Maqhari and Al-Mawlid praised the project’s economic significance, and it was agreed to hold further meetings to bring it to fruition.
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