Moroccan artisans to form their professional association

Moroccan artisans will get their professional association in a year, announced Moroccan secretary of State in charge of handicraft, Hassan Maaouni,

In an interview published Monday by the Moroccan daily "Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb," Maaouni said his department has drawn up a draft framework law related to the organization of some 300 crafts and services associated with the handicraft sector.

The Moroccan minister, who noted that the handicraft sector is short of financial means, said more assistance is needed to set up more craftsmen villages, modernize production, management and marketing and improve the social security of artisans.

The financing of the handicraft sector, is limited despite the performance of the sector which accounts for 10% of GDP, employs 1.5 million person sand ensures a living for 1/5 of the Moroccan population, Maaouni said.

The Moroccan official added the industry needs new financing formula more adapted to the expectations and requirements of the sector, underscoring the importance of the project of a Mediterranean south-south and south-north cooperation agency (Actime) which was examined by participants in the Euro-Mediterranean seminar on financing mechanisms of handicraft held in Morocco last April.