The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) has continued to strengthen its efforts to develop a «high-end» brand for high-quality Saudi crafts and handicrafts, through the establishment of the Saudi Crafts and Handicrafts Company, which was approved by the Council of Ministers as part of the National Transformation Program 2020 initiatives.

Product development and commercialization

The "Rakia" initiative aims to develop and market Saudi craft products in local and international markets.Dr. Faisal Al-Khamis, Director of the Saudi Company for Crafts and Handicrafts Initiative, explained that the company, which was supported with 220 million riyals, aims to preserve the heritage of national crafts and handicrafts, refine the skills of workers, thus providing a distinct income for local communities, and achieve the balance of development, which will have the greatest impact in reducing the migration of citizens from villages to major cities, and expand the crafts market and make it a profitable market with added value to the national economy, stressing that the company will support local traditional craftsmen by providing them with tools, raw materials and high-end designs, in addition to training programs.

Partnership with the private sector

<Dr. Al-Khamis explained that the Authority seeks through the company to regulate the crafts and handicrafts sector and confront indiscriminate marketing in order to reduce the difficulties facing this industry and those working in it, and encourage them to continue, improve and expand the scope of investment in this field, through the development of designs and the optimal use of the materials used to reflect positively on the quality of craft products and develop the performance of artisans. He said that the company will undertake to develop the quality of crafts and handicrafts products in the regions of the Kingdom, and carry out all basic, intermediate and complementary works and activities necessary to implement the selected activities

National Transformation Program

The Saudi Crafts and Handicrafts Company is one of the initiatives of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, which was approved within the first phase of the program of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques - may God protect him - to take care of the Kingdom's cultural heritage, and works according to a commercial and developmental methodology that ensures the improvement of the services provided, achieving profitable returns for artisans and local communities surrounding the sites to be developed, and organizing the crafts and handicrafts sector to turn into an economic activity characterized by quality production and contribute to improving the economic conditions in regions.

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The National Transformation Program 2020 is the first step towards the realization of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 as an approach and map for economic and developmental work in the Kingdom, and it draws the general directions, policies, targets and commitments for it to be a leading model at all levels.The new initiatives of the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage come in the context of the first phase of the National Transformation Program 2020, which is currently being implemented in partnership between the Council of Economic and Development Affairs and 18 government agencies and includes 755 initiatives in various economic, developmental and social fields, which are expected to contribute to the Kingdom's transformation towards