King Mohammed receives handicraft creators
Morocco, Economics, 10/5/2001

Moroccos' King Mohammed VI received inn Marrakesh Friday noon delegates of handicraft creators and handicraft trades who presented to the sovereign "the Oath of the Craftsman" and a copy of the white book on handicraft.

Director of the royal office, Mohamed Rochdi Chraibi, and minister of social economy, small and medium sized enterprises who is in charge of the government's affairs, Ahmed Lahlimi, attended the audience.

Moroccan craftsmen had taken an oath last September at the end of a national seminar on a white book on handicraft and trades, pledging to improve the quality of handicraft items and to endeavor so that their trade holds the rank it deserves in the country's economic development process.

The craftsmen also pledged to convey their art to mounting generations to perpetuate Morocco's centuries-old handicraft, to abide by a code of ethics in the exercise of their trade, to preserve the authenticity of Moroccan handicraft, that they described as a culture and civilization legacy, while encouraging innovation and creativity to meet the needs and tastes of consumers.

The handicraft sector has contributed 19% to Morocco's Gross Domestic Product in 1999 and employs around 2 million persons, which stands for 20% of the country's active population.

According to figures released at the national seminar, the value of exports stood in 1999 at 610 million Dirhams (about US$ 52.5 million) accounting for 6.5% of total exports of goods.

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