Iran’s handicraft exports increase sixfold year on year

TEHRAN,Oct.30(MNA) - Iran exported about $640 million worth of handicrafts in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 20, showing a notable 6-fold rise compared to the same period last year, the deputy director of Iranian Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization said on Monday. “The exports stood at around $100 million last year,” IRIB quoted Mohammad-Hasan Salehimaram as saying. Salehimaram said in August that Iran will pay $1.5 billion in loans to support exporters of handicrafts. He added hat the loans will be paid with 6 percent interest. The value of exports is anticipated to reach $1.5 billion in the current year, Salehimaram noted.