President: Handicrafts Sector Should Regain Its Due Status

Tehran, June 14, IRNA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iranian handicrafts sector, with 220 known branches, should regain its due status. Addressing top handicrafts producers, President Ahmadinejad said handicrafts industry had been in a top position but it started to decline in a specific period of time. Iran has some 257 handicraft items on its national heritage list and over 116 of its works have received the UNESCO Award of Excellence. Iranian craft work , are handicrafts works that are useful in ordinary life or are decorative. They are made completely by hand or using only simple tools. Usually the term is applied to traditional means of making goods. Among the most important Iranian handicrafts are carpets, khatam works and enamel work./end