Handicrafts Bring Back the 'Made in Sudan' Initiative

Several craftsmen in Sudan launched a project to produce 1,000 Sudanese products to be marketed to the world by the end of 2020. Making use of an initiative entitled, "Everything But Arms" by the European Union that supports production in developing countries.

Muhaira al-Tayib, a handicraft designer, says that the project aims to introduce the world to Sudanese handicrafts and traditional products and marketing them under the trademark, "Made in Sudan", where producers abide by high-quality production using local raw materials of high quality.

According to Tayib, the project works on improving the production of accessories, furniture, leather products, textiles, and decorations.

The project's publicist, Hadi al-Rashid, clarified that the designers and craftsmen taking part have undergone extensive training to produce commodities at international standards.

"The project brings back some crafts that have been dissipated to life, such as pottery and porcelain, and presents them to the world with a Sudanese taste and design," she said.

According to Rashid, the project is an initiative by the youth who work in handicrafts and traditional crafts to develop them into an international trademark under the name "Made in Sudan".

The Director of the Department of Models at the Sudanese Ministry of Finance, Wael Fahmi Badwi, said that small traditional crafts produce job opportunities for families and societies and combat poverty. They play an important role in increasing national income, he said, adding that "It is good for some young Sudanese who have talents and expertise in handicrafts to work in productive projects that provide the state with foreign currency".

Member of the Economic Committee of the Forces of Freedom and Change Sadiq Qablo told Asharq Al-Awsat that the project increases private income for families and helps improve the national economy. Qablo recommended that the state adopt such projects that contribute to opening new markets.

Economic expert Fateh Othman sees that the initiative will remain limited if the government did not adopt it and coordinate with the European Union, the Arab Gulf, and the United States to open their markets for such products. Othman asked that funding be secured for those taking part in the initiative, pointing out that the initiative will achieve real success if government policies are put in place to encourage production and exportation and plans are set for teaching crafts and vocational training.

He clarified that the contribution of small crafts to national income does not exceed 3%, a small percentage due to the lack of economic policies.