Iran To Earn dlrs1b Through Carpet Exports: Official

Tehran, Aug 22, IRNA – Iran can earn as much as 1 billion dollars through export of hand-woven carpets abroad, Head of Iran's Hand-Woven Carpet Union Mas'oud Chamani said here. “Carpet exports could increase to one billion dollars this (Iranian) year (started on March 20),' Chamani said in a press conference at Iran's Carpet Museum in Tehran on Sunday. Stressing on its quality and beauty, Iranian carpets need no advertisement in foreign countries, he said, calling on officials to pay more attention to non-oil products like hand-woven carpets which can be exported to other countries. Iran has exported 560 million dollars worth of hand-woven carpets in the last (Iranian) year (March 21, 2011 - March 19, 2012). The country exported handmade carpets to more than 80 countries last year. Iran is the leading exporter of hand-woven carpets. Persian rugs are highly sought out for their intricate design and skilled craftsmanship. Carpet-weaving is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished manifestations of the Persian culture and art, and dates back to ancient Persia. There is an estimated population of 1.2 million weavers in Iran producing carpets for domestic markets and international export. The country produces about five million square meters of carpets annually, of which 80 percent are sold in international markets. The United States, Europe (especially Germany and Italy), China, South and Central Africa, along with neighboring countries are the most important markets for Iranian made Persian Carpets./end