Mohammedia – On the sidelines of the ongoing 5th edition of the Salon International de l’Artisanat du Mali (SIAMA) in Bamako, Moroccan representatives from the Chamber of Crafts of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra launched a week-long training program for Malian artisans in several technical and craft-related fields.
The initiative targets 90 beneficiaries and focuses on skills transfer in areas including automotive electronics, mechatronics, leatherwork, mobile phone repair, tanning, and leather goods production.
Morocco is participating in SIAMA for the second time as a guest of honor through the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Chamber of Crafts. The Moroccan delegation includes trainers specialized in automotive electronics as well as experts in leather and mobile phone repair.
According to Le360, one Moroccan trainer said the program combines both theoretical and practical instruction, with the objective of sharing Moroccan know-how with Malian artisans.
Training sessions cover automotive systems through detailed explanations of different electronic mechanisms and practical workshops supported by technical interfaces brought from Morocco.
The trainer stressed that artisans today require continuous training, skill upgrading, and regular technical updates in order to remain efficient in their trades. The week-long sessions aim to address these needs directly on site.
Among the trainees is Aboubacar Diop, an economist by training who now works in the automotive sector out of personal interest. He explained that the program also includes mechatronics, a field that applies to various industries, including automotive maintenance and repair.
For him, the training represents an advanced opportunity for professionals currently active in the automotive sector. He noted that many techniques demonstrated during the sessions were previously unfamiliar to him, highlighting the technical added value of the training.
According to participants, the program has only just begun but is already producing tangible results. Trainees report that the information shared is clear, practical, and directly applicable to their work. They also welcomed the opportunity to learn from Moroccan professionals recognized for their experience in these fields.
Focus on skill transfer in technical and craft trades
The initiative results from a formal request from the Malian side to benefit from Moroccan expertise in specific craft and technical sectors.
According to the President of the Permanent Assembly of Chambers of Crafts of Mali, Mamadou Minkoro Traoré, Morocco has gathered significant expertise in several trades, notably mechatronics, tanning, leather goods manufacturing, mobile phone repair, and leather processing.
This is why the Malian authorities chose Morocco as a partner to support the capacity-building of Malian artisans in these professions, he explained.
Traoré noted that the Moroccan Chamber accepted all the requests it received from the Malian authorities, enabling the establishment of this training cycle in Bamako within the framework of SIAMA.
The Malian side expressed its appreciation to the President of the Chamber of Crafts of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra for responding positively to the invitation and for mobilizing qualified trainers for the event.
At the official opening of SIAMA, Mali’s Head of Government, General Abdoulaye Maïga, recalled the strategic role of the artisanal sector in the country’s socio-economic and cultural life.
He indicated that craftsmanship contributes 24.2% to the national gross domestic product and employs more than 40% of the active population, underlining the importance of strengthening skills and professional training in this sector.
Through this cooperation, Malian artisans benefit from hands-on exposure to modern techniques currently used in Moroccan workshops.
The training program is expected to run throughout the duration of the Moroccan delegation’s stay in Bamako, with sessions dedicated to each specialty.
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