Seminar On Iranian Carpets Opens In South Africa

Pretoria, Aug 21, IRNA – Iran’s one day seminar on Iranian hand-woven carpets opened in Sandton area of Johannesburg in South African, on Monday. Some African merchants and economic activists attended this seminar which aims to develop Iranian hand-woven carpets’ presence in the world market. Iran's Ambassador to South Africa Mohammad Faraji, speaking in the seminar declared government’s support for the expansion of carpet industry and development of its presence in the world market. “Iran and South Africa relations are at a good level and it should develop in all fields,” the official added. Mojtaba Feizollahi, Deputy Director for Marketing of the Iranian National Center for Carpets in a lecture to this seminar also noted that South Africa is a good market for Iranian qualified carpets. Carpet-weaving is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished manifestations of Persian culture and art, which dates back to ancient Persia. According to official sources, Iran's export of Persian carpets reached almost 450 million dollars in 2010 with the weight volume of nearly 7 thousand tones. There is an estimated population of 1.2 million weavers in Iran, producing carpets for domestic markets and international export. Iran exports carpets to more than 100 countries, as hand-woven rugs are one of its main non-oil export items. The most important importers of Persian carpet include the U.S., Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Japan./end