“Heritage Crafts Market” opened at Dummar Central Incubator for Traditional Arts in Damascus

The Minister of Tourism Muhammad Rami Martini on Sunday opened the “Heritage Crafts Market” at the Dummar Central Incubator for Traditional Arts in Damascus.

 Martini stressed in a statement the importance of the incubator for preserving micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, including traditional crafts and professions that summarize hundreds of years of Syrian history and successive civilizations on its land.

He pointed to the keenness to preserve the tangible and intangible heritage, national identity, and structure small projects to grow, develop and achieve sustainability and economic feasibility.

Minister Martini pointed out that the incubator, which includes 80 craftsmen, is a joint project between the Ministries of Tourism, Industry, and Culture, the Syrian Secretariat for Development, the General Union of Craftsmen, and all skilled, creative hands, indicating that it is the beginning of upcoming projects in all governorates.

In turn, Minister of Industry Abdul Qadir Joukhadar pointed out that opening the market is a revival of heritage crafts that we always seek to preserve, develop, and secure all their requirements, noting that the role of the Ministry of Industry is to preserve these professions and crafts by seeking to qualify young capabilities and secure the supplies to support them.

Head  of the General Union of Craftsmen, Naji Al-Hadwa, stated that the incubator provides free accommodation for craftsmen, energy carriers, work supplies, and product marketing, as it is an outlet for displaying and selling all traditional craft products.

Copper arts craftsman and trainer at the incubator Adnan Tanbakji said the market contributes to integration between craftsmen and the exchange of experiences, while musical instrument maker Firas Al-Salka pointed out that the market brings together craftsmen and helps in manufacturing products that require their cooperation.

The opening ceremony  was attended by members of the central leadership of the Arab Socialist Baath Party, head of the Economic Office, Dr. Ammar Al-Sibai, head of the Preparation, Culture, and Information Office, Dr. Mahdi Dakhlallah, Minister of Culture, Dr. Labana Mashouh, and the Governor of Damascus, Engineer Muhammad Tariq Krishati as well as other officials.

Rawaa Ghanam