✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers – November 2025 – In a ceremony imbued with symbolism and national pride, the Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts, Houria Meddahi, inaugurated today the 26th edition of the International Handicrafts Fair at the Moufdi Zakaria Palace of Culture, reaffirming the strategic role of traditional industries as a cornerstone of Algeria’s new economic vision.
Minister Meddahi underscored that traditional craftsmanship has evolved from a cultural emblem into a productive economic sector, serving as a vital driver of tourism, job creation, and local development across the nation’s provinces. “Traditional crafts today stand at the heart of our economic renewal, as a sector that not only preserves identity but also fuels sustainable growth,” she declared.
Highlighting the significance of timing, Meddahi noted that launching the event on National Artisans’ Day—celebrated annually on November 9—carries deep symbolic meaning. It reflects the state’s recognition of the indispensable contribution of artisans in preserving Algeria’s cultural identity and safeguarding its deeply rooted heritage. “Traditional crafts are not merely an economic pursuit; they are a living expression of our collective memory and a mirror of creativity and authenticity,” she emphasized.
The minister revealed that the number of registered artisans has reached an impressive 470,000, including 150,000 women operating in over 600 distinct handicraft fields. These figures, she said, “illustrate the sector’s dynamic vitality and its growing capacity to generate wealth, particularly for women and youth.”
This year’s edition brings together 323 Algerian artisans representing all regions of the country, alongside 70 participants from friendly and partner nations, reinforcing the fair’s international dimension as a vibrant platform for economic exchange and cultural dialogue.
In her address, Meddahi also outlined the ministry’s strategy to modernize and digitalize the sector through the launch of the National Digital Portal for Handicrafts and the expansion of the Electronic Artisan Card system. These initiatives, she explained, aim to facilitate access to markets, enhance transparency, and support artisans in transitioning their skills into sustainable business ventures.
Equally significant is the ministry’s focus on protecting Algerian craft products through the establishment of a “Label of Quality and Authenticity” to safeguard national creations against imitation and strengthen their competitiveness locally and internationally. Meddahi further stressed the effectiveness of state-backed financial mechanisms such as the microcredit system and entrepreneurship support programs, which have proven successful in funding and guiding thousands of artisanal projects nationwide.
Concluding her speech, Minister Meddahi expressed her deep appreciation for the artisans and creators from Algeria and abroad whose work continues to enrich the nation’s cultural landscape. She called on citizens to visit the fair and discover the artistic treasures that embody Algeria’s historical depth and creative vitality.
“The handicraft sector,” Meddahi affirmed, “is not merely about preserving tradition—it is about shaping the future through creativity, resilience, and innovation.”
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