The 13th Edition of SAFEM: Honorary and Special Guests Expressed Gratitude to the People of Niger for Their Warm Welcome and Interest

Mr. Serge Poda thanked the people of Niger for their warm welcome and hospitality.

Newstimehub

Newstimehub

9 Dec, 2024

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Mr. Serge Poda thanked the people of Niger for their warm welcome and hospitality.

The Togolese Minister, Hounaké, conveyed the warmest greetings from Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé and the people of Togo. He also expressed gratitude to the regional and municipal authorities of Niger, led by President Major General Abdourahamane Tiani, for the authentic African hospitality extended to the Togolese delegation.

Minister Hounaké said, “We have once again witnessed the legendary hospitality of the Nigerien people and I would like to thank you once again for that.”

He further emphasized the importance of this fair, saying, “On one hand, it serves to recognize the magnificent contributions of African women in the construction of our nations, and on the other, to create a platform for the development of their craft potential.”

“Therefore, Togo is particularly honored to participate in this great biennale, which aims to promote the virtues of women as the guest of honor country,” he added.

The Minister of Togolese Handicrafts expressed gratitude to his counterpart, the Nigerien Minister of Handicrafts and Tourism, for inviting Togo to take part in the celebration of African crafts and their potential.

He also highlighted the need for the enhancement of handicraft potential, which was one of the key factors leading to the President of Togo’s decision to allow Togo’s participation as the guest country in SAFEM 2024.

The Togolese Minister reminded the audience that handicrafts are one of the driving forces behind the national economy in Togo. They contribute to wealth creation, cultural heritage preservation, and the fight against poverty by creating thousands of jobs, especially for young people and women.

Minister Hounaké also pointed out that crafts are a strategic sector in achieving the goals of the Togo 2025 Vision, which includes national development and public action guidance.

He concluded by inviting all delegates at the fair to visit the Togo booths to discover the quality of Togolese craftsmanship and also extended an invitation to Nigerian artisans to participate in the 4th edition of the International Crafts Market of Togo (MIATO) to be held in Lomé from April 23 to May 4, 2025.

Earlier, Burkinabe Minister Serge Poda had conveyed the greetings of the Presidents of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Chad to all guest countries. He expressed pride in the honor of being selected as special guest countries for the 13th edition of SAFEM and highlighted the strong historical, cultural, and friendly ties among the nations.