Moroccan exports of handicraft items increased by 4.5% last year

Morocco's exports of handicraft items were worth $61 million in 1998, 4.5% higher than a year before.

A report of the department of handicraft released in Laayoune-- which hosted this Nov.23-28 the national metal arts festival-- says the value of these exports, not including rugs, was worth $40.1 million, a 14% rise in comparison with 1997.

Moroccan "Banque Populaire" has extended in the last five years to handicraft professionals loans worth $66.65 million while $2.4 million were extended as micro-loans.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has also granted Morocco a $15.5 million for a program to extend micro-loans to handicraft small and medium-sized enterprises.