Politique

Handicraft Stimulates Innovation

Par Eulalia AMABO
28 Jul 2026 11:46
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The importance of handicraft to an economy cannot be overemphasized as strong craft markets contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through job creation, export revenues and tou rism. Understanding this im portance, the Ministry of Small and Medium-sized En terprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, under the distinguished sponsorship of the President of the Re public, organised several edi tions of the International Handicraft Exhibition of Ca meroon, best known by the acronym SIARC. This year’s edition is the ninth, holding under the theme, “Boosting craft innovation at the cross roads between tradition and modernity.” Rightly put, it is the country’s leading platform for the pro motion, showcasing and mar keting of craft products to national and international persons/bodies. Ca maroon is a ten-region nation with four cultural zones that por tray a wonderful cultural he ritage. Through arts works from natural resources, the abovementioned exhibition seeks to promote and sti mulate innovation in the craft sector by creating a platform of exchange bet ween traditional skills and contemporary influences with a view of improving competitiveness, sustaina bility and access to national and international markets. With several foreign coun tries participating at the in ternational exhibition, and again taking place at the premises of the National Mu seum, Cameroon’s handi works will be on display. Partnerships will be created, items sold and new contacts established, all of which contribute to generating in come for the economy. In addition to the financial gains is the cultural image of the country which occu pies centre stage at the in ternational scene. Hand made traditional relics that tell significant stories about Cameroon, unique fabrics and other works of arts cap tivates minds, thus giving reason to the phrase that describes the country as "Africa in miniature" due to its cultural diversity.