Minister of Tourism Sofiane Tekaya Inaugurates Design Center in Kasserine
The Minister of Tourism, Sofiane Tekaya, stated on Monday, during the inauguration of the Design Center at the Kasserine Artisanal Village, that this seventh national center represents a significant asset for Tunisia and the Kasserine governorate, as well as for the development of the artisanal sector.
Key Highlights
- The center is expected to play a crucial role in promoting the artisanal sector and supporting local economic development.
- The Minister emphasized the importance of fully exploiting this new space and energizing its activities, noting that the creation of the center is timely due to the region's rich resources, specialized labor, and young people's skills.
- The State will spare no effort to support and accompany the artisanal sector, according to the Minister.
Support for the Artisanal Sector
The Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts indicated that the qualitative leap in the artisanal sector is the result of generations of work and considerable efforts. The natural riches and specific archaeological sites of the Kasserine governorate are a stimulating factor for further supporting the handicraft and tourism sectors, noting the commitment of the various stakeholders to promote and develop them.
Partnership and Funding
The Director of the "Tunisia Creative" project, Talel Sahmim, stated that the Kasserine Design Center is the result of a partnership between the National Office of Handicrafts (ONA) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) under the "Tunisia Creative" project, funded by the European Union with a contribution from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
Project Objectives
The creation of the center, which cost 500,000 dinars, is part of the implementation of the national strategy for the development of the handicraft sector, elaborated by the ministry since 2018. The "Tunisia Creative" project contributes to the development of value chains in more than 17 specialties and intervenes in 18 governorates. The Kasserine center plays a central role in enhancing the value chain of halfa through training, enterprise structuring, product development, and partnerships between designers and artisans.
Support for Institutions
The project also aims to support support institutions, including the Higher Institute of Arts and Crafts and the Kasserine Artisanal Village. Sahmim noted that the "Tunisia Creative" project has supervised the creation of six design centers in Sidi Bou Said, DenDen, Nabeul, Mahdia, Gafsa, and Gabès, in addition to the Kasserine center. The objective is to support artisanal creativity, develop design, strengthen competitiveness, and support sustainable development in this vital sector.
