Efforts To Develop The Art Of Pottery Continue In Benin

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency Directorate is continuing efforts to develop the art of pottery in Benin’s touristic Sé, within the scope of its development and technical assistance activities for the Most Underdeveloped Countries.

TİKA is bringing to life a number of technical cooperation and development projects for the purpose of increasing the visibility of Turkey and developing bilateral relations in Africa within the scope of its development and technical assistance activities for the Most Underdeveloped Countries.

A committee assigned by TİKA within this scope, made a visit to Benin in 2012. During the visit it was observed that pottery which is considered a craft special in Benin’s Touristic region of Sé was being done in primitive conditions without the help of machines. In this context a decision was made by TİKA to contribute to the development of pottery in Benin.

In the first stage 9 women were invited from Benin to Menemen, one of the centers for pottery in Anatolia, to attend a 2 month course. In response to Benin President Boni Yayi’s importance placed on the development of relations with Turkey, TİKA deemed it suitable to construct a pottery workshop in the Sé region of Benin. A large amount of pottery equipment was obtained from Turkey in the scope of the Pottery Project and shipped to Benin.

It is estimated that that construction of the workshop in this project will be completed in a few months. After the materials that have been sent are placed in the workshop it is planned that a pottery expert from Menemen will be sent to Benin’s Sé region to provide training for a period of two months to the local pottery producers.