Handicraft Sector: Gov’t According Deserved Attention

The handicraft sector in the country keeps getting a boost, with the sector contributing FCFA 1.6 billion to national income in 2017, according to statistics from the Ministry of Small and Medium- sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicraft. President Biya’s government is cognizant of the potentials of the sector, reasons why much attention has been paid to the sector and it only gets better.

To give special attention to this sector, President Paul Biya in 2004 created the Ministry of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicraft with the global objective of promoting small and medium sized enterprises and the specific task of boosting the artisanal sub-sector.

Following the creation of the Ministry, the handicraft sector has become more vibrant. It continues to offer jobs to the country’s unemployed youths, officials said. Same last year, thanks to government support, Cameroonian craftsmen won four prizes at the Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) International Handicraft Exhibition for creativity and innovation.

As a move to encourage Cameroonian label, valorise Cameroonian arts and culture as well as promote artisanal trade, the government has created handicraft centers (villages) of international, regional and local character.

It has also prioritised...