The 15th edition of the International Arts and Handicrafts Fair has opened in the Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou, with Madagascar as the guest country of honour.
The fair which runs from October 26 till November 4, 2018 is one of Africa’s most important trade shows for Arts and Handicrafts to seek professional buyers and artists across the world with which Ghana is a participating country.
This is the 13th year since its inception and the 15th edition held biennially in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The International Arts and Handicrafts fair known as Le Salon International de l’Artisanat de Ouagadougou, SIAO is to showcase a wide variety of artistic expression of African creativity, skills, beauty and functionality which also inform the world about Africans historical origins and cultural heritage.
The SIAO 2018, has at least 19 participating African countries, more than 550 stands and over 3,000 exhibitors and professional buyers across the world.
The Ghana Export Promotion Authority, GEPA, is facilitating the participation of about thirty exhibitors.
The opening session was attended by the President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kabore, the Canadian Governor General, Madam Julie Payette and other high level government officials.
Burkina Faso’s Minister for Trade, Industry and Handicrafts, Mr. Harouna Kabore said the Handicrafts sector is dynamic and can help reduce poverty when given the needed attention. He added that for over thirty years, Burkina Faso has strategically positioned this sector at a high peak by creating the platform for other African countries to sell their rich culture to the rest of the world.Madagascar’s Minister for Handicrafts, the guest country of honour for this year’s SIAO, urged all participating countries to use technology to underscore the need for professionalism to improve on the quality of their products.
She said Africa is noted for its creativity as a continent of change and has the potential to build the continent.
The Director of Handicrafts at the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Mrs. Theodora Froko said Ghana has been participating in SIAO fairs since its second edition and always improves on its quality of products with competitive prices.
She said with technology, GEPA is encouraging exhibitors to engage in product development and supply base expansion for selected priority products to attain international standards.
Speaking to GBC24, an exhibitor from Ghana, Mr. David Aurthur said with the exposure from GEPA, other countries place orders for his products. This he believes, puts Ghana a notch higher compared to other African countries.
Ghana’s Art and handicrafts sector has grown considerably over the years with an approximate export revenue of US$10.411 million in 2017.
Handicrafts are a source of revenue and employment generation, trade, tourism, culture, poverty alleviation and contributor to economic development and are the cornerstone to lead economic reemergence.
The SIAO 2018 fair is on the theme: ”African Handicrafts market requirements and technological development”.
STORY BY: DOROTHY AGYEMANG
