{{For the first time, Indashyikirwa Craft Association Rwanda (ICAR) composed by winners of the annual Handicraft Excellence Award Program (HEAP) will take over the organization of HEAP competitions.}}
During a press conference organized at MINICOM, Members of ICAR have vowed to make successful this year’s HEAP Edition scheduled to be held from 16 to 20 June 2014.
The program was 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.
Speaking at the press conference jointly organized by ICAR and the Ministry of Trade and Industry , the President of ICAR, RUGERO Paulin has announced that the association is going to own this program with a special focus on handicraft value addition leading to increase access to international markets.
He said “this year’s HEAP competition is 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 8 sub-sectors including leather, tailoring, jewels, ceramics and pottery, carpentry, weaving, decoration and home accessories, and food processing.”
Selection of talented handicraft artisans at the provincial level will be conducted on 16 and 17 June 2014 at Ikaze Showroom located at “Cathedral Saint Michel” in Nyarugenge District -Kigali City.
The final evaluation is scheduled to be held on 20th June 2014, and will be based on a live practical test to all selected artisans.
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.
In his remarks, the Minister of Trade and Industry François KANIMBA noted that this program has not only increased the number but also the quality of products available on the market.
“In 2011, the Ministry introduced Handicraft Excellence Award Program- HEAP 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” .The Minister said.
The Minister confirmed that MINICOM will continue to support ICAR in order to enhance the artisans’ ownership of the competition and make it more fruitful.
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.
Within this year’s HEAP, 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.
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