The Sultanate of Oman will celebrate Omani Craftsman Day on Saturday, March 3. The data released by the (NCSI) says that the total number of artisans and craftspersons in the Sultanate by the end of 2017 was 21,142 from which 18,609 were female and 2,533 were male. It means there is one male for seven female among craftspersons in the Sultanate.
From among the total number of craftspersons in the Sultanate, Dhofar governorate had the largest share with its total number reaching to 6,325. Of them, 5,851 are women. This is also the highest ratio of women among craftspersons in the Sultanate. This is followed by North Al Sharqiyah governorate where there is 4,735 craftspeople of which 4,318 female and just 417 male. The number of craftspersons in North Bathinah governorate was 3,470 of which 3,179 are female and 291 males. The number of craftspersons in Al Dakhliyah governorate was 2,028. This governorate has the largest number of craftsmen which is 483, compared with 1,545 craftswomen. In Al Wusta governorate, the number of craftspersons reached to 1,331,. They include 1,238 female and 93 male. In South Al Bathina governorate, the number of craftspersons reached to 1,257, including 930 female and 327 male.
Among others, there are 510 craftspersons, of which 431 female and 79 male, in South Al Sharqiya governorate. With 485 craftspersons, of which 399 female and 86 male, in Muscat governorate have 2.29% share. There are 444 craftspersons in Al Dhahirah governorate with 333 females and 111 males, the total size of craftsperson in the country. Musandam has 351 craftspersons, 266 females and 85 males and 206 craftsmen in Al Buraimi Governorate, 119 females and 87 males.
The cotton fabric industry has the largest number of craftspersons. The numbers of workers in this industry reached to 6,780, most of them are in North Al Sharqiya governorate 2,437 craftspersons. This is followed by the wool fabric industry has 5,073 craftspersons to be in the second position. Most the craftspersons in this area are also in the same governorate. They are 1,713. The industry of frankincense and cosmetics ranked third in terms of the number of craftspersons. There are total 3,158 craftspersons in this industry, 2604 of them are in Dhofar governorate, which is the largest number. The number of craftspersons working in the pottery and ceramics industry is 1,119, in handicraft industry 2,863, in the leather industry 763, in the textile industry 416, in the wood industry 297, in the silver industry 264 and in the flower and herbal distillation industry 191. The number of craftspersons working in the copper and earthenware industry reached to 98. In addition, in the bone industry 73, in the stone and gypsum industry 25, and in the musical instruments manufacturing industry 22.
The number of outlets affiliated to the Public Authority for Craft Industries (PACI) reached to 26 marketing outlets and 231 crafts' projects, while the number of training programs reached to 14 and rehabilitation programs reached to 35.
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