Twenty best craftsmen out of 50 selected across the country will be awarded during the Fourth Edition of the annual Handicraft Excellence Award Program (HEAP) initiated by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) in 2011 in order to boost innovation and creativity within craft industry and increasing craft exports.
Indashyikirwa Craft Association Rwanda (ICAR) composed by winners of last HEAP Editions took the lead to organize competitions for the 2014 HEAP edition which held from 16 to 20 June 2014.
According to RUGERO Paulin , President of ICAR, their association has owned this program with a special focus on handicraft value addition leading to increase access to international markets. He vowed to make successful this year’s HEAP Edition
“This year’s HEAP competition was open to individual/cooperative handicraft producers, designer-producers and other handicraft organizations legally registered that produce commercial handmade craft products and capable to maintain adequate stock levels to fulfill orders in 10 sub-sectors including leather, tailoring, textile, jewels, ceramics and pottery, carpentry, weaving, metal work, decoration and home accessories, and food processing.” Mr.Rugero said.
Selection of talented handicraft artisans at the provincial level were conducted on 16 and 17 June 2014 at Ikaze Showroom located at “Cathedral Saint Michel” in Nyarugenge District -Kigali City.
A total of 95 artisans from across the country have registered their products for this year’s competitions.
Out of them 50 have been selected for the final evaluation which was scheduled to be held on 20th June 2014, basing on a live practical test to all selected artisans .
In a event scheduled to take place today,5pm, at Lemigo Hotel, only 20 best artisans will be granted with awards at national level.
Mr. Paulin Rugero also made clear that Handicraft products that will be granted the “Award of Excellence” will have to meet the highest level of craft quality and be distinguished as a benchmark for craft production.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has introduced the Handicraft Excellence Award Program- HEAP in 2011, not only to recognize innovation and talent among Rwanda’s crafts sector but also to stimulate competition for quality products capable of accessing regional and international markets, to boost exports from the handicraft sector and improve the welfare of those active in the sector.
All 30 districts of the country participated to last years’ competitions. Contests were held in 11 categories as stipulated in Law number 19/2010 of 09/06/2010 related to the organization of handicraft sector.
Competitions at district level attracted more than 13,500 artisans, around 450 per District on average. Of these, 217 received awards at the national level.
In addition, talented Rwandan artisans (HEAP winners) from countrywide with high quality products have been linked to both regional and international markets.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has also supported artisans to establish a permanent showroom (IKAZE Showroom) in Kigali City to help artisans market their products, especially those from remote areas.
Winners of this year’s HEAP are expected to attend a series of seminars related to market access, design, intellectual property rights, taxation law for SMEs and standards are expected to be conducted in partnership with MINICOM, RRA, WDA and RBS among others.
