Casablanca will host the OIC International Handicrafts Fair from December 18 to 28, 2025, a major showcase for creators from fourteen member states. The event, held at the ICEC in Aïn Sebaâ, aims to position handicrafts as a driver of economic cooperation and cultural influence within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

A Major OIC Handicrafts Event

In Casablanca, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) International Handicrafts Fair brings together more than 70 exhibitors representing 14 member states. Scheduled from December 18 to 28, 2025, at the ICEC in Aïn Sebaâ, it coincides with the activities of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), thus enhancing its visibility among African and international visitors.

This trade fair is part of the dynamic of the OIC’s major trade fairs, which serve as key platforms for exchange and investment among the 57 member countries. Casablanca, a long-standing host city for OIC economic events, is thus consolidating its role as a regional hub for creative and craft industries.

Economic Objectives and Cultural Diplomacy

One of the main objectives of the trade fair is to stimulate trade in handicrafts among OIC member countries, helping artisans access new markets and diversify their outlets. The booths promote a wide range of products – textiles, jewelry, wood, leather, ceramics, and basketry – while highlighting national labels and quality initiatives.

From a cultural diplomacy perspective, the event provides a forum for exchanging knowledge, techniques, and aesthetic identities specific to the Islamic world. Official delegations, trade promotion agencies, and chambers of crafts are using the Fair to forge institutional partnerships and lasting professional alliances.

International Participation and Delegation Influence

More than 70 exhibitors from 14 member countries are participating in this edition, illustrating the geographical and cultural diversity of the OIC. Exhibitors include independent artisans, cooperatives, craft SMEs, and public bodies responsible for promoting the sector.

Tunisia, for example, is participating through a collective pavilion coordinated by the National Handicrafts Office, which supports the presence of craft businesses in various specialties to boost their exports. Other member countries are also mobilizing their promotion agencies and chambers of commerce to support their operators, drawing inspiration from previous editions of the OIC sectoral fairs, which have already brought together dozens of countries and hundreds of companies.

A program rich in exchanges and training

Beyond the exhibition and sales, the OIC International Handicrafts Fair offers seminars, roundtables, and B2B meetings dedicated to support mechanisms for marketing handicraft products. These forums for dialogue address topics such as financing, supply chain structuring, innovation in design, and the protection of intellectual property rights for handcrafted creations.

Networking sessions aim to bring together artisans, distributors, e-commerce platforms, and investors from different member states. For some countries, participation is partially subsidized (stand rental, product transport), opening doors for small businesses that are often excluded from major international events.

Casablanca, a showcase for “Made in Morocco” and OIC expertise

Organized at the ICEC Casablanca in conjunction with the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the trade fair also serves as a showcase of excellence for “Made in Morocco,” highlighting the richness of Moroccan artisanal heritage to a wider audience. This exposure benefits local artisans, as well as Morocco’s image as a platform for trade, tourism, and culture within the African and Islamic world.

For the OIC, the event confirms the relevance of a strategy of specialized trade fairs, where crafts are recognized as a sector that creates jobs, fosters economic activity, and promotes social cohesion. By bringing together creators from fourteen countries in Casablanca, this trade fair illustrates the capacity of crafts to become a driver of South-South cooperation and closer ties between peoples.