TEHRAN – On Sunday, the national registration of four Iranian villages and three cities as handicraft hubs was announced by Maryam Jalali Dehkordi, the deputy minister of handicrafts and traditional arts.

The decision was reached after extensive discussions and deliberations during a session of the Strategic Council for the Selection of National Handicraft Cities and Villages chaired by Jalali Dehkordi at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts.

In addition, the jury included representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Rural Development Department of the Planning and Budget Organization, and provincial officials and experts.

The number of dynamic workshops in specific regions, people engaging in a specific field, and the facilities available for trading new crafters were among the elements taken into account to reach the shortlist.

Bafruiyeh in Yazd province was named a national city for mat weaving. Mamaqan in East Azarbaijan province was recognized as the national city for Mamaqanduzi (weaving a kind of needlework), and Kuzehkonan in Shabestar county of East Azarbaijan province was declared the national village for traditional pottery.

Golestanak in Alborz province was registered as the national village for pottery and ceramics. Najaf-e Tarakomeh in East Azarbaijan province was named the national village for Vernibafi (weaving a kind of rug-like flooring). Khor in South Khorasan province was named a national village for agate carving. And finally, Shahediyeh in Yazd province was recognized as the national city for textile weaving.

According to experts, the bestowing of that national label helps promote those places to become more prosperous travel destinations and foster economic growth and cultural preservation.

Earlier this month, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Ezzatollah Zarghami said the country boasts nearly 300 distinct fields of handicrafts, a diversity unparalleled globally.

He 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.”

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

AM