Cameroonian craftsmen showcase expertise at fair in Congo.

The fair taking place in Brazzaville, Congo, which is on its second edition, began August 13 and will end August 25. 

Taking part in the fair as a guest of honour, craftsmen from Cameroon are exhibiting a myriad of Made in Cameroon products ranging from hand crafted objects like statues, masks, jewelry pieces and paintings, to innovative processed agro products like cassava juice, local wine and diverse chewable snacks.

Visiting the exhibition stands, Congo’s Minister of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Handicrafts, Jacqueline Lydia Mikolo, explained that Cameroon, as a guest of honour at the fair, was not a coincidence considering the country's rich handicrafts experience. 

“It is clear why we decided for Cameroon to be the country of honour this year. We recognised that in the Central African sub region, Cameroon is the most advanced country in terms of promotion and the development of handicrafts. So, we want to be inspired and benefit from its expertise, experience and the diversity of its handicrafts sector,” Mikolo underscored.

Alongside the Congolese SMEs Minister was the Ambassador of Cameroon to Congo, H.E Louis-Marie M. Nkoum-Me-Ntseny, who pointed out that the country has gained a good reputation as far as handicrafts are concerned.

“The particularity of Cameroon's handicrafts sector in the central African context is that our craftsmen are well trained and skilled and have the potential to train other craftsmen in the sub region," he said. 

According to the officials, another vital reason for Cameroon's presence in Brazzaville is for transfer of knowledge. They pointed out that as part of the fair, young craftsmen in Congo will be trained by their counterparts from Cameroon through workshops and conferences that will be organised in the course of the fair.

It is worth recalling that Cameroon's participation in the Congo International Crafts Fair was announced in July when Minister Mikolo of Congo visited her Cameroonian counterpart, the Minister of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, MINPMEESA, Achille Bassilekin III.

This year's FIAC is on the theme: “The local transformation of natural resources by African craftsmen: challenges and prospects”.

According to official statistics, the crafts sector in Congo represents 20% of the country's Gross Domestic Product, GDP and 80% of the nation's informal sector.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3205 of Tuesday August 21, 2024