The craft sector continues to demonstrate its economic weight, with over 1.4 million direct jobs generated, according to Abdelkrim Berki, Director General of the National Chamber of Crafts and Trades (CNAM), on the occasion of the opening this Sunday of the 26th International Traditional Craft Fair (SIAT 2025) at the Moufdi-Zakaria Cultural Palace in Algiers.
The craft sector aims to be ambitious, modern, and internationally oriented while affirming its heritage and creative richness, according to Mr. Berki, who highlighted the sector’s essential role in the national economy, specifying that Algeria currently has 470,266 artisans. He added that the sector contributes 400 billion dinars to the national GDP. “We will not rejoice for that alone, as we aspire to better,” he qualified, before presenting CNAM’s ambitions: to reach 700,000 artisans by 2030, create 2 million jobs, and increase the contribution to GDP beyond 400 billion dinars.
This edition of SIAT, taking place from November 9 to 15, 2025, is themed “Algerian Traditional Craft: Heritage, Authenticity and Artistic Creativity,” coinciding with the National Artisan Day. It will host 334 exhibitors, including 264 Algerian artisans and 70 foreigners from 12 countries. Several institutions and ministries will also be present, notably those of Vocational Training, Start-ups, and Higher Education, as well as support bodies such as NESDA and ANGEM. Alongside commercial activities, three days of study will be organized to enrich exchanges and encourage reflection on the sector’s evolution.
Abdelkrim Berki also spoke about the sector’s modernization, emphasizing digitization as a major lever. He highlighted “the creation of an artisan card integrating a QR code, offering abundant information and allowing use by other institutions.” According to him, this card ensures complete traceability of the artisan’s journey until retirement, facilitates the collection of reliable statistics, and allows anticipation of activities likely to encounter difficulties.
The CNAM Director General urged artisans to incorporate modernity and design in their creations while preserving the identity, heritage, and traditions of their products. “The artisan must imperatively keep the identity and authenticity of their product while adding a touch of modernity to make it accessible and visible on the international market,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of following the changing needs and expectations of customers.
Finally, to allow the general public to discover the potential of Algerian and global craftsmanship, free buses will be provided from six departure points, facilitating access to the Fair for all visitors and offering a unique opportunity to closely see the excellence and diversity of traditional trades.