Morocco values its traditional products industry
Morocco is a country with deep-rooted traditions.
Various elements of Moroccan culture, history and society are appreciated both inside and outside the country and are one of the most recognisable symbols of the North African country.
The Moroccan kingdom is aware of this and is firmly committed to continuing to promote the traditional products industry and to give it an important place within the country's industrial and economic fabric.
The Moroccan government is still keen to strengthen the traditional products sector, which has maintained good sales figures in recent years, especially with the boost provided by the North African nation's significant tourist activity. In fact, Morocco has reached a record high for visitor numbers, with 17.4 million tourists in 2024, which represents an increase of 20% over the previous year. These tourists always show a great deal of interest in everything that is most representative of Moroccan culture and handicrafts.
Moroccan craftsmanship is one of the country's distinguishing features and a real attraction for millions of tourists, along with the great landscapes and monuments of the North African nation.
The whole of Morocco has its own noteworthy traditional elements and disciplines. The main Moroccan crafts include pottery (with great importance in cities such as Fez, Safi, Marrakech or Rabat), carpets, rugs and large-format textiles (particularly in the mountain enclaves of the Rif or the High Atlas), embroidery (particularly in areas such as Fez, Meknes, Rabat, Salé or Azemmour), basketry (particularly in Salé, the Marrakech region, Fez or the Rif), leather goods (with Marrakech, Tetouan, Rabat and Fez leading the way), jewellery and precious stones (with enclaves such as Essaouira, Fez, Meknes, Marrakech, Tangier, Salé and Rabat standing out) and cabinetmaking (an important field in the Rif, Essaouira and the Atlas mountain region).
The Moroccan state is strongly committed to this area. Thus, as a result of the intense efforts aimed at developing the artisan sector and improving the conditions of its workers, Lahcen Saadi, Secretary of State in charge of Traditional Industry, Social Economy and Solidarity, announced that the sector achieved a turnover of more than 140 billion dirhams (13.44 billion dollars), a figure to be taken into account.
In addition to the high level of purchases of these kinds of traditional products in Morocco, especially by tourists visiting the North African country, exports of these products exceeded 100 million dollars in the last financial year. It is an industry of great importance for Morocco as it employs 22% of the Moroccan working population and contributes 7% to the national Gross Domestic Product.
The industrial fabric of this sector has 140 centres authorised to produce these types of traditional articles, a very extensive network in the Moroccan kingdom.
The sector also has an extensive training network for young people to learn trades and how to make these types of products in order to preserve the artisan and traditional characteristics of a country with as much history as Morocco.
Morocco is also considering modernising this sector with the introduction of new digitalisation techniques and a commitment to the evolution of the traditional goods industry, improving the living and working conditions of the people working in this more traditional and artisan market, which ranges from textiles (with the famous leather tanners) to household goods and decorative items for the home, such as rugs and items made of ceramic, copper or wood. In this review of Moroccan culture and tradition, we must not forget the country's traditional cuisine, valued throughout the world as part not only of the national gastronomy, but of the intrinsic culture itself.
One of the main centres of Morocco's artisanal production is Marrakech, which leads the way in traditional industry exports. The Regional Directorate of Traditional Industry Marrakech-Safi reports that exports from this enclave grew by 41% last year to reach 44 million dollars.
The good figures recorded are related to the boom in demand for traditional industry products from the United States, up to 80% in the last year. The Arab countries and Spain also experienced a 61% growth in demand for these products exported by the Moroccan kingdom. A scenario that shows the great appeal of Morocco's traditional and artisan products.
Commitment to the sector
The Moroccan government has confirmed that the traditional industrial sector will continue to focus on the promotion and development of production centres for these types of items, and will work to create new infrastructures, within the framework of a partnership between various local actors with the aim of improving the infrastructure for production, marketing and training.
The Moroccan government is continuing to develop training programmes to enable many young people to learn the art of making these products, with the increasing use of technology. It is also promoting the development of a quality mark programme so that traditional products made in Morocco have a quality seal that is recognisable throughout the world and certifies their value and authenticity. In fact, up to 77 brands have already been registered with certification authorised by the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property.
In addition, the use of the Made in Morocco label draws attention to its products made in Morocco for customers in the Kingdom of Morocco itself and around the world.