The National Office of Traditional Industries, established by Law No. 133 of 1959 dated October 14, 1959, has been entrusted with the following tasks:
- Directly or indirectly utilizing the production facilities established or to be established by the Office itself or through its intervention.
- Conducting technical monitoring of industrial companies in the field of traditional industries and export-oriented products.
- Assisting in promoting the production of traditional industries, particularly through the training and improvement of skilled and professional workforce, as well as disseminating and marketing their products in the domestic and international markets.
- Engaging in trade, both for its own benefit and for the benefit of others, in traditional industry products.
- Taking or requesting all necessary measures aimed at protecting, improving, and developing Tunisian traditional industries.
Significant decisions of ministerial councils include:
- In 1990, the restructuring of the National Office of Traditional Industries was approved, which involved transferring the production apparatus to an independent subsidiary entity called "Production Company for Traditional Industries (SOPART)" and the promotional tasks to another independent subsidiary called "Company for the Promotion of Traditional Industry Products (SOCOPA)." Both entities were liquidated in 1996 and 2005, respectively.
- In 1997, the training apparatus (professional skills, spaces, and equipment) was transferred to the Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment, which assumed the responsibility of training in the sector through the Tunisian Agency for Vocational Training.
- In 2009, the mechanism for revolving capital loans assigned to the Office by virtue of the 1988 Finance Law was transferred to the Tunisian Solidarity Bank.
As a result of the restructuring of the Office and the decisions of the ministerial councils that affected its activities, the Office is now responsible for the following tasks:
- Enhancing the skills of the workforce in the sector.
- Developing investment and promoting job creation in the sector, as well as supporting the development of craft institutions.
- Promoting research and innovation.
- Developing products and enhancing marketing.
- Establishing quality systems in the sector and conducting technical monitoring of production and marketing channels.
- Promoting information and communication systems in the sector.
- Conducting technical, economic, and social studies that contribute to the advancement of the sector.
