TEHRAN - Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts has said the country boasts nearly 300 distinct fields of handicrafts, a diversity unparalleled globally.

Ezzatollah Zarghami made the remarks at a ceremony celebrating World Handicrafts Day at the ministry headquarters, attended by veteran artisans, craftspeople, and media representatives.

“We have around 300 diverse fields of handicrafts, making us unique in the world due to this variety,” Zarghami emphasized.

However, he pointed out that packaging remains a significant issue for the country’s handicraft industry. Sharing a personal experience from Lalejin in Hamadan province, Zarghami said, “I bought a handicraft in Lalejin, and the seller wrapped it in paper before handing it to me.”

He stressed the importance of developing appropriate packaging for handicraft products, stating, “The packaging must be worthy of the artwork itself.” This, he argued, is crucial for enhancing the presentation and value of Iranian handicrafts on the global market.

Currently, a selection of 13 cities and three villages in Iran have been registered by the World Council of Handicrafts as “world cities of handicrafts”.

AM