Morocco’s Secretary of State for Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy, Lahcen Essaadi, inaugurated on Sunday the new Specialized Institute of Traditional Arts in Laayoune.
The opening took place in a ceremony with the presence of a number of high-ranking officials including Wali Abdeslam Bekrate of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region, and representatives from various departments.
Laayoune’s Regional Council funded the construction of this state-of-the-art facility in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy.
Built on a 2,800-square-meter plot, the institute came together with an investment of MAD 24.8 million (USD2.4 million), with nearly half of the budget allocated to equipping the space.
Essaadi highlighted the institute’s potential to equip hundreds of young people and women from Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra with valuable skills.
The institute offers specialized training in two primary areas: arts and production crafts (tailoring, leatherwork, and jewelry) and service-oriented crafts (artistic carpentry, building electrical work, and plumbing).
With two-year programs leading to Technician or Qualification diplomas, the institute aims to foster a skilled workforce that can sustain and grow traditional arts in the region.
In addition to classrooms and hands-on workshops, the institute includes a multimedia room, library, trainer offices, meeting rooms, and a seminar hall. Organizers seek to integrate a modern educational experience with Morocco’s heritage of craftsmanship.
Essaadi also announced the launch of the Regional Handicraft Fair, which looks to showcase artisans and cooperatives from across Morocco.
This year’s event, scheduled to run through November 7, is bringing together more than 50 exhibitors, who represent Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra’s four provinces as well as other regions. The fair encourages artisans to market their products and offers them a platform to boost income and foster industry connections.
During the fair, officials awarded training certificates and technical tools to about 20 artisans in the field of jewelry-making.
The support falls under a larger initiative under the regional Chamber of Handicrafts, which, in coordination with the Regional Directorate of Handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy, offers programs to enhance craftsmanship skills and provide professional support.
Essaadi’s delegation also visited the Laayoune Handicraft Complex, which features two new projects focused on traditional tailoring. “Dar Nassij” and “Dar Derraâa” provide employment for around 90 graduates from apprenticeship centers, with “Dar Nassij” joining four cooperatives to share resources and expertise, boosting productivity and competitiveness at both regional and national levels.
The project “Dar Derraa,” spearheaded by the Al Jil El Jadid tailoring cooperative, focuses on preserving the traditional Moroccan garment known as the derraâa.
Essaadi explained that the initiative intends to establish Laayoune as a model center for traditional garment production, improve work conditions for artisans, and refine production techniques for a new generation of craftsmen and women.
The inauguration event and handicraft fair celebrate Morocco’s 49th anniversary of the Green March and the growing role of traditional arts in the region’s social and economic development.
Essaadi pointed out that these investments align with Morocco’s new model for southern provinces, seeking to strengthen economic opportunities while preserving the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.