A Permanent heritage handicrafts market opened in Tartous

Based on the importance of preserving the heritage of  the Syrian coast and finding  a place that provides a gathering of artisans in Tartous Governorate, a permanent heritage handicraft market was opened recently  on  Tartous corniche . 

Great efforts  were exerted by  the concerned authorities  in response to the demands of the craftsmen to  establish  a platform that provides marketing opportunities in addition to preserving their handicrafts .

A member of the Executive Office of the Artisans Union in Tartous, Munther Ramadan, said in a statement to SANA  that the market includes 57 craftsmen and craftswomen at   the union  who  have been distributed to 19 stores  on the Corniche. 

He pointed out that the market will be a permanent one for traditional handicrafts and a real incubator for carrying out continuous training for those who  are interested in learning these crafts , adding the market will also be a permanent exhibition for the heritage arts of the Syrian coast in addition to be a  destination and tourist landmark. 

Engineer Fadi Deeb, Vice President of the City Council said in a statement that the market is of great importance within the framework of preserving heritage and encouraging craftsmen, indicating the market  was  carried out  from the independent budget of  Tartous  governorate  in cooperation with the General Company for Building and Reconstruction at a value of 24 million  SYP. 

On her part , Woroud  Suleiman, director of the Small and Medium –sized Enterprises Development Authority branch, said that the first step of  cooperation with the Craftsmen Union was  carrying out  a free training course  for about 12 women to teach them  the bamboo industry, which will be followed by subsequent  training courses on other traditional professions  to  preserve and teach  the region’s heritage.

 In turn, craftswoman Siham Qassem ,who works in the field of gemstone accessories,  said the permanent market is  a long-awaited dream,  hoping that it would be an opportunity to find  markets abroad  with the advent of the summer season and tourism.

  Rima Maarouf,  another craftswoman who works in the field of textile recycling, stressed  that the market  develops  work and creativity in a manner parallel to development while preserving the originality of the product.

The craftsman Hassan Shaaban  noted that the market is necessary to develop the  traditional handicrafts products and introduce  the secrets of the soap handmade  industry,  its advantages, value and many other benefits.

Craftsman Mahmoud Halhal  displayed several  paintings made of seashell , believing in the importance of utilizing  the  waste materials and outputs  of the sea  such as seashells, sand and sea pebbles to produce various materials and  introduce  the integrated coastal environment .

The wounded Syrian  personnel had an important presence in the market, especially after many of them depended on  learning  different traditional handicrafts .

Farid Ali (wounded)who works in the field of making household appliances from bamboo material, wished that the market would open new horizons towards promotion, while the wounded Median  Yussef presented various models of antique wooden works , considering his presence with a number of his wounded companions and craftsmen as a good initiative  to benefit from the ideas and works which are showcased  in the market.

Rawaa Ghanam