Awarding the titles of 'People's Artisan' and 'Meritorious Artisan' in the field of handicrafts

In recognition of the achievements in the field of handicraft development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has reported to the Government for permission to organize the review and propose the State to confer the titles of “People's Artisan” and “Excellent Artisan” on artisans. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is proud and always accompanies artisans, contributing to the preservation, promotion, and trade connection, making the handicraft industry increasingly develop and grow, contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh - Chairman of the State Council for awarding the titles "People's Artisan" and "Meritorious Artisan"

Accordingly, implementing Decree No. 123/2014/ND-CP dated December 25, 2014 of the Government regulating the awarding of the titles "People's Artisan" and "Excellent Artisan" in the field of handicrafts, the Ministry of Industry and Trade received 92 dossiers from 15 provincial and municipal Councils directly under the Central Government requesting the awarding of titles to 10 People's Artisans and 82 Excellent Artisans.

The Ministry-level specialized council and the State-level council studied the dossiers, organized a working delegation to visit the establishments of 92 artisans, assessed the reality; voted to select, reported, submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration, submitted to the President for the Decision to confer the title of "People's Artisan" to 04 individuals, posthumously confer the title of "People's Artisan" to 01 individual and confer the title of "Meritorious Artisan" to 72 individuals. This decision demonstrated the Party and State's recognition, deep concern, and high appreciation for the position and role of artisans in developing handicrafts.

The handicraft industry plays a very important role in the current socio-economic development process, actively contributing to the development of the Industry and Trade sector. Nearly 66 thousand handicraft production establishments nationwide (including 81 recognized handicraft villages) have attracted about 11 million workers to participate in traditional occupations, with an average income of 4-5 million VND/person/month, more than twice as high as pure agricultural labor; handicrafts have been and are playing a great role in economic activities and people's lives, the export market is increasingly expanding, our country's handicraft products are present in 163 countries and territories around the world, actively contributing to increasing foreign currency revenue, developing the tourism industry, and at the same time contributing to preserving tangible and intangible cultural values ​​of the nation.

Therefore, preserving and developing handicrafts in association with consumer needs is very important, contributing to the successful implementation of the industrialization and modernization of the country according to the policies and guidelines of the Party and State.

Speaking at the awarding ceremony held on December 15, comrade Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh affirmed that the People's Artisans and Meritorious Artisans, the "living human treasures", have preserved the quintessence of traditional crafts, and at the same time constantly innovated to create more new products and works of high economic, technical and artistic value, both promoting national traditions and demonstrating the creativity of Artisans in the context of international integration, contributing to the glory of Vietnamese culture in the region and the world.

The Vice President also assessed that the artisans who were awarded and recognized are of different ages, inherited through generations; typical of many different handicrafts from embroidery, ceramics, jewelry, lacquer, mother-of-pearl inlay, silver carving, wood carving, bronze casting, Dong Ho paintings, etc. These are traditional handicrafts, imbued with national cultural identity and modernity. Some handicraft products have become official gifts serving the foreign affairs of the Party and State in recent years. The artisans honored today are the respect and recognition of the Party, State and People for the merits and talents of the artisans.

Image at the Award Ceremony.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh - Chairman of the State Council for considering the titles "People's Artisan" and "Meritorious Artisan" also shared that the State's honorary titles:"People's Artist", "Meritorious Artist"The noble reward of the Party and State for artisans today is a recognition of great achievements and shows gratitude to artisans who have tirelessly contributed to preserving and developing the precious handicrafts of our country.

With its assigned roles and tasks, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to effectively implement the work of awarding artisans in the following years; currently, with the spirit of both preventing the epidemic and ensuring the goal of socio-economic development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has implemented many activities to support the handicraft industry, aiming to turn challenges into opportunities, creating new breakthroughs for the development of this special traditional industry.