TEHRAN – On Friday, a number of Iranian craftspeople in Budapest launched handicraft stalls at a Bulgarian fair dedicated to Christmas and the holiday season.

Arranged by the Hungary-based Avicenna Holding in close collaboration with Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, the Iranian stalls brought together craftspeople from the provinces of Tehran, Isfahan, Kerman, West Azarbaijan, East Azarbaijan, Zanjan, Alborz, Yazd, and Khorasan Razavi, CHTN reported.

Crafters and exhibitors from other countries including Turkey, Venezuela, China, Hungary, India, South Korea, and Indonesia participate in the event, which will be running through Dec. 23, the report said.

As mentioned by the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, the value of Iran’s handicraft exports stood at $400 million during the first ten months of the past Iranian calendar year 1401 (Mar. 21, 2022—Jan. 20, 2023). “Compared to the same period a year earlier, the figure represents some 30 percent growth.”

At present, a total of 13 cities and three villages in Iran have been registered by the World Council of Handicrafts as “world cities of handicrafts”. The World Crafts Council is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that was founded in 1964 to promote fellowship, foster economic development through income-generating craft-related activities, and organize exchange programs, workshops, conferences, and exhibitions.

AFM