The annual awards for the best craftsmen were held on Friday with a call on artisans to be more innovative to ensure their products attract more buyers.

The event, which took place in Kigali, was organised by Indashyikirwa Craft Association Rwanda (ICAR) through the Handicraft Excellence Award Programme (HEAP).

A total of 20 best craftsmen were awarded, out of the 50 who had been shortlisted.

This year’s HEAP competition was open to both individuals and cooperatives in 10 sub-sectors including leather, tailoring, textiles, jewels, ceramics and pottery, carpentry, weaving, metal work, decoration and home accessories, as well as food processing.

The Minister for Trade and Industry, Francois Kanimba, said the awards were introduced not only to recognise innovation and creativity among Rwanda’s craft sector but also to stimulate competition for quality products capable of penetrating regional and international markets.

This, he said, will boost the country’s export sector and contribute toward the country’s economic development.

Kanimba said the winners would be supported to grow through a series of seminars related to market access, intellectual property rights, and taxation law for Small and Medium Enterprises, among other courses.

The Director General of Workforce Development Authority, Jerome Gasana, also advised the winners to seize the opportunity and apply for the ongoing skills development funding being run by the institution.

 "I am delighted to be recognised in Rwanda’s crafts sector with this award. This means a lot to me and my colleagues. It will certainly push us to work harder and realise our dream of having our products go regional and international,” said Melcianne Uwamwezi, one of the winners.

The awards programme was introduced in 2011.