TEHRAN – Iran exported handicrafts to the tune of $1 billion in the previous Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20, the deputy head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO), Bahman Namvar, said.

Carpet, traditional jewelries, precious stones, and metal-embossed crafts accounted for the majority of export items, IRIB quoted Namvar as saying.

The handicrafts were mainly exported to Iraq, Afghanistan, Eastern Europe, and South American countries, he noted.

Iran’s handicrafts exports rose by 40 percent last year compared to its preceding year, Namvar added.

Namvar also highlighted that Iran is placed among top three handicrafts producers of the world and is ranked 30th in handicraft exports.

The cultural richness and historical antiquity of Iranian handicraft is well known across the world.

Iran, with 250 diverse handicraft fields, has proved that it can replace oil with handicraft exports.

Given the Western sanctions imposed on Iran in recent years, the handicraft exports faced obstacles.

Also, rivals in other countries duplicated Iranian carpet designs, produced machine-made carpets, and sold them at cheaper prices. This has greatly harmed Iranian carpet industry.

Ak/