Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman

The National Handicraft Program, popularly known as Bari, has signed an agreement with the Turquoise Mountain Foundation (TMF) of Prince Charles to promote handicrafts in the Kingdom by supporting local artisans through the skill-based training to be provided by trainers from the foundation.

Bari and TMF entered into a cooperation agreement, which was signed at Al Ula during the recently-concluded Kingdom trip of Prince Charles, a Bari official said on Sunday.

He noted the agreement seeks to promote handicrafts in the Kingdom and support Saudi artisans through the development of skills with the TMF trainers in its quest to produce more of handicrafts capable for being sold inside and outside the Kingdom.

Furthermore, the agreement aims to spur professional and scientific exchange for students, teachers and artisans between the TMF and Bari, as well as promoting mutual cooperation for the development of some of the heritage villages in the Kingdom, he added.

The agreement also is expected to select the targeted crafts for development in the Kingdom, providing required technical and professional support to a selected group of artisans, developing a number of profitable craft products for the retail market as souvenirs for hotels as well as establishing an exhibition to display live models of Islamic art, traditions and crafts, the official underlined.

The signing ceremony was attended by Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman, who is also the chairman of Al-Madinah Tourism Development Council, as well as Khalid Taher, Al Madinah secretary general, Prince Mohammad bin Nawaf, ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the UK, and Simon Collis, ambassador of the UK in Riyadh. Bari is a flagship program of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), while the TMF was founded in 2006 at the initiative of British Crown Prince Charles for the revival of traditional handicrafts, restoration and preservation of historic antiquities.

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