The 8th International Handicrafts Exhibition of Cameroon (SIARC) scheduled in Yaounde from 22nd -30th July at the National Museum will be marked by a special exhibition aimed at showcasing the cultural diversity of Cameroon’s 10 regions.
The Regional Heritage Days is one of the innovations of the exhibition to hold on the theme “Digital Technology, a factor for Sustainable Development for the Overall Employment and Inclusion of Artisans.”
Regional Heritage Days
In prelude to the 8th SIARC, the Minister of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts Achille Basillekin granted a press conference at the National Museum in Yaounde on 19th July to discuss the major priorities, and innovations of the fair.
The Minister of Communication, and Government Spokesperson , Rene Emmanuel Sadi, was represented at the press conference by the Secretary General of the Ministry, Felix Zogo.
Minister Achille Basillekin said about 800 craftsmen from the ten regions of the country will take part in SIARC 2024 which will witness the introduction of Regional Heritage Days for the very first time.
“The aim is to highlight the craft heritage of the ten regions of our country giving rise to the presentation of specific features of each of the regions,” Achille Basillekin said.
The regional exhibition days will take place every week day from 4-6Pm, and from 2-4 and 4-6 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Aside exhibiting their products, about 800 craftsmen from the country’s ten regions will have the opportunity to make good business deals from the about 15,000 visitors expected to visit 510 stands during the regional exhibition of handicrafts.
The regional exhibitors will be grouped into professions in the Arts and Decorations pavilion, Clothing and accessories pavilion, Machinery Pavilion, Mobile Pavilion, Agri-food Processing pavilion and others.
SIARC 2024 Innovations
Delegations from 20 countries in Africa, Asia and Europe will be present at SIARC 2024.Tunisia will participate in the fair as guest of honor.
“Tunisia was chosen because of its proven expertise in craft, creativity as well as in successful integration of digital changes in this sector,” the Minister said.
Exhibitors from Tunisia will share experience and inspire Cameroonian craftsmen during a three-day capacity building workshop scheduled to hold alongside the exhibition of handicrafts in sectors including painting, making bread and cakes made from cassava flour, hairdressing and many others.
Another major innovation of SIARC 2024 concerns plans to standardize and certify artisanal products exhibited by the country’s craftsmen.
Digital Technology and handicraft
For a period of ten days, craftsmen will not just exhibit their products, but learn the role of technology in the advancement of the handicraft sector.
Embracing technology as a factor of economic growth and development requires that craftsmen produce products that meet national and international standards.
“Rapid technological advances and connectivity have given rise to the new economic era where digitalization plays a key role in the economic growth of nations” Minister Achille Bassilekin said.
Digital transformation permits companies to improve their commercial knowledge, and gives them access to global markets and networks at a relatively low cost.
This exposes them to new opportunities, which require additional investments in organizational changes, as well as innovations that align with digital technology requirements.
Digital transformation of the handicraft industry is one of the issues ministers of Handicrafts of the CEMAC subregion, discussed during the last committee meeting from 26th- 27th July 2023.
Organizers of SIARC 2024 are hopeful that more Cameroonian craftsmen will make use of digital technologies to revolutionize and accelerate the digital transformation of the handicrafts sector in Cameroon.
Kathy Neba Sina
