RIYADH, 7 November 2006 — Interior Minister Prince Naif will inaugurate here today a high-profile conference and exhibition featuring handicrafts, arts and tourism products from Islamic countries.
This event, the first of its kind with a mandate by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to promote handicrafts and tourism products, is being supported by the Supreme Commission for Tourism (SCT) and the Istanbul-based Research Center for Islamic History, Arts and Culture (IRCICA), an affiliate of OIC. A number of delegations from different OIC member states have already arrived in Riyadh.
“This weeklong event is being organized with the support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, who has been keen to promote art and handicrafts sector of the Islamic world and make it a financially-viable industry,” said Prince Naif in a statement released for the occasion.
Prince Naif, who is also the acting chairman of the SCT’s board of directors, said that the SCT was working hard to develop the handicraft industry in the Kingdom.
SCT spokesman Majed Al-Sheddi said the objective of the event is to evaluate the economic potential of the handicrafts industry of the Islamic world.
A special international award, to be given once in every two years, has been instituted with an aim to encourage artisans from Islamic countries. This year’s winners will be announced on Nov. 14.
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