Damascus-SANA
The General Union of Craftsmen, in cooperation with the concerned authorities, is working to build infrastructure and incubators to support and absorb craftsmen, employ them and install them in their professions, which will reflect an increase in production and an improvement in their living situation.
The Vice-President of the Union, Ahmed Abdel Hamid Saleh, indicated to the SANA Economic Bulletin that the development of the craft sector is the nucleus of developing small, medium and micro enterprises, given that the craft establishments are quick to produce and their role is direct in developing these projects, i.e. the basis for the functioning of the production process, pointing to the role of craft establishments during the war on Syria. Where it did not stop working and with its full production capacity, except for the facilities that were harassed by terrorism, such as the one in Aleppo, and after its liberation, most of the craft facilities returned to work.
Saleh stressed that a large number of craft industrial zones have been established in coordination between the union branches in the governorates and with the support of the Ministry of Local Administration, and work continues to complete some areas to be put under investment, noting that the craft areas affected by terrorist acts during the past three years have been rehabilitated and a large number have returned. From craftsmen to work in it, including Aleppo and the countryside of Damascus.
He explained that the government support provided to the industrial and craft zones is great with the aim of settling craft industries and increasing local production, as the Union provides the necessary facilities for the work of craftsmen by granting them soft loans to support and develop their facilities, in addition to allocating them to craft divisions in batches. The Union also provides health care for craftsmen and their families through the Assistance Fund Social Union The Ministry of Economy is also working to provide facilities for the participation of craftsmen in exhibitions such as the Damascus International Fair and to participate in foreign exhibitions.
Saleh pointed out that the craft sector is an important focus in the import substitution program and secures a large part of the types of spare parts and production line requirements for factories and industrial and craft workshops, which saves the state large sums of foreign exchange and contributes to providing the local product at reduced prices.
Saleh said: We have 450 production and service crafts, and there is encouragement for graduates of vocational institutes as they are qualified to work in their specializations. Craft incubators have also been created to be a center for rehabilitation, training, production and marketing, internal and external, in addition to the creation of a research center to develop craft industries, especially traditional heritage crafts, to preserve them from extinction, indicating that there is 150 thousand craftsmen registered in the union, and there are many craftsmen working and not affiliated with the union, which we are working on to appoint.
Amjad Sabbagh
SANA Economic Bulletin