An ambitious national strategy for craftsmanship

In Egypt, craftsmanship enters a new phase. Driven by an ambitious national strategy and the establishment of a dedicated Council, the sector is also attracting a generation of entrepreneurs who are rethinking marketing, design, and market access. Supported by public policies, incubators, and private initiatives, an ecosystem is being structured to make heritage a true economic lever.

AI Index: Library of Mediterranean Knowledge
An ambitious national strategy for craftsmanship
22-med – March 2026 
• In Egypt, the creation of a national Council and a strategy for 2025-2030 aim to structure a sector that already accounts for billions and employs more than two million people. 
• Incubators, brands, and new entrepreneurs are shaking up a model centered on direct sales, with the goal of tripling exports by 2030. 
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From north to south, Egypt is rich in traditional crafts, which vary according to the environment and available resources. Almost every governorate (administrative region) has dozens of products that are a key element of its cultural heritage and identity.

According to the Information and Decision Support Center of the Council of Ministers, this sector employed more than two million people in Egypt at the beginning of 2024, making it an important sector capable of absorbing a considerable workforce in various ways. Data from the Chamber of Craft Industries indicates that Egyptian craft exports are currently estimated at around 250 million dollars (210 million euros).

This sector of the creative economy has generated considerable interest in recent years. It is regarded as one of the most important sectors capable of increasing a country’s national income. The United Nations estimated the value of the global creative economy, including craftsmanship, at approximately 985 billion dollars (nearly 906 billion euros) in 2023.

In recent years, Egypt has implemented several initiatives to revitalize this sector: “Hérafi” aimed at supporting small artisans and manufacturers of heritage products, “Ayadi Masr,” the initiative of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency to revive traditional craftsmanship, the presidential initiative “Tetlaf Fi Harir” (Wrapped in Silk), “Ibdaa Men Masr” (Creativity from Egypt), “Sanay’iya Masr” (Artisans of Egypt), “Creative Egypt,” and “Al-Nidaa” (The Call), an integrated development program for the revival of traditional craftsmanship.