Tunisia’s ArtiCrea handicrafts fair brings 228 exhibitors to the Kram Exhibition Centre as handicraft exports reach TND 85 million and international buyers from Canada, Malta and Sweden join the event.
The third edition of ArtiCrea, Tunisia’s professional handicrafts trade fair, opened Monday at the Kram Exhibition Centre, bringing together 228 handicraft businesses from across the country and placing export growth, innovation and market access at the centre of the sector’s agenda.
Organised by the National Office of Tunisian Handicrafts (ONAT) in partnership with the National Handicrafts Federation and the Tunis International Fairs Company, the fair runs until October 11 and is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Women manage 60% of the participating businesses, while higher education graduates manage 40%, according to organisers. The event aims to strengthen the competitiveness of Tunisian handicrafts and expand opportunities to market handicraft products both domestically and abroad.
It provides a platform bringing together artisans, buyers, professionals, companies and institutions supporting the sector, while facilitating access for Tunisian handicraft products to national and international markets.
Products on display include ceramics and pottery, jewellery, textiles, leather and wooden goods, cosmetics, pastries and other handicraft products, as well as creations combining traditional craftsmanship with design and innovation.
During a tour of the exhibition’s various stands, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Sofiene Tekaya reviewed the diversity of products on display and met several artisans and handicraft business owners to hear their concerns and proposals regarding the development of their activities, improving working conditions and marketing their products, as well as strengthening their presence in the domestic market and access to foreign markets.
Handicraft exports rise to TND 85 million
ONAT Director-General Leïla Msallati said handicraft exports reached around TND 85 million by the end of August 2026, up 3% from the same period in 2025 and accounting for about 2% of the total value of Tunisia’s exports.
She added that this year’s edition is distinguished, for the first time, by the participation of foreign guests, including representatives from Canada, Malta and Sweden, as well as international buyers and journalists.
Organised in cooperation with the Export Promotion Centre (CEPEX), the Tunisian Post and the Tunisian National Tourist Office, the event seeks to promote Tunisian handicraft products and strengthen their presence in foreign markets.
Msallati said 12 public and private institutions are contributing to supporting the handicrafts sector and promoting exports, notably the Tunisian-American Chamber of Commerce, which is participating for the first time given the importance of the US market, the leading destination for Tunisian handicraft exports.
As part of international cooperation, the fair is showcasing products developed by Tunisian artisans in partnership with organisations from Canada, Malta and Sweden, she said. These include new Sejnane pottery creations produced as part of a six-month cooperation programme.
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