Development of Clusters in Cultural Creative Industries in the

Southern Mediterranean Project

Known as

“Creative Mediterranean Egypt”

The Creative Mediterranean project is funded by the European Union (EU), Italian Development Cooperation and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The project aims at strengthening selected clusters and cluster initiatives in cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in the Southern Mediterranean that have the potential to develop into promising pilot cluster initiatives.

Since the project was launched in February 2014, over 140 clusters and 70 other economic realities in cultural and creative industries have been identified in a seven participating countries, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia. Fourteen clusters were chosen mostly from design-based industries.

Egypt launched the project on 3 February 2015, with two main clusters, the Habitat design cluster and the leather cluster.

The Habitat Cluster addresses designers in Cairo, as well as handicraft manufacturers who work with the designers to develop an integrated design hub with a complete value chain to preserve and revive Egyptian heritage through the promotion of local designers and crafts, as well as through the development of new creative designs oriented to match market needs and trends.

While the Leather cluster operates in the leather sector in Cairo, (leather goods and shoe manufacturers) to improve their capabilities in product development, and facilitate their access new markets.

This Project is funded by the European Union

Union pour la Mediterranee

Union for the Mediterranean

الاتحاد من أجل المتوسط

Italian Development cooperation

Ministry of foreign affairs