TEHRAN - Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has said all Iranian municipalities have been required to set up handicraft marketplaces near city entrances, CHTN reported on Monday.

“Based on a presidential order, we have notified all municipalities to consider a place [near city entrances] to offer handicrafts,” Vahidi stated.

The official said his ministry is set to closely monitor the implementation of this project to help support Iranian crafters. 

“We have made a strong determination to set up the bazaars as soon as possible to support handicrafts people.”

Vahidi estimated the scheme, when fully implemented, makes a significant change in the prosperity of handicrafts, employment, and production countrywide.

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