Marrakesh host to international conference on carpets

The 6th international conference on carpets was held last week in Marrakesh with the participation of some 300 experts and specialized journalists.

Participants underscored the artistic and aesthetic values of the Moroccan rug and efforts to preserve its authenticity and secure its durability.

Held under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI, the conference was co-sponsored by the International Conference on Oriental Carpets (ICOC) and the Moroccan government. The conference attended by experts from Germany, Saudi Arabia, Austria, Canada, Spain, the USA, France, Iran, Italy, Switzerland, Tunisia and Turkey is the second of the kind hosted by Morocco. The first was held in Marrakesh also in 1995.

In 2000, Morocco produced 224,111 units of rugs, against 235,555 in 1999 and 260,207 in 1996. Exports were worth 189.5 million DH en 2000, compared to 201.8 million DH a year before and 239.5 million in 1996.

Germany was in 2001 the largest outlet for Moroccan carpets with 103.99 million DH-worth of imports, followed by the USA 26.36 million DH and the Netherlands 18.4 million DH.

The International conference on Oriental Carpets says on its website the Moroccan venue offers participants the chance to discover the cultural context of Moroccan carpets and flatweaves, while enjoying the country's charm and the Maghreb hospitality. The itinerary is based on the tried-and-tested tourist route to the royal Moroccan cities and provides a unique opportunity to immerse in the country and its art as guests of honor.

In addition to the conference itself and a lecture program, the non-profit association also held a carpet exhibition dubbed "Wild Beauty" displaying the most prestigious private collections of Moroccan rural carpets in Europe, in addition to three other exhibitions on rural textile.