Five Iranian dossiers closer to global registration
Iran’s Deputy Tourism Minister, Maryam Jalali, announced ongoing endeavors to register five dossiers of Iranian handicrafts on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List.
During a visit to Astara on Monday, Jalali revealed that four cases related to artifacts from Rasht in Gilan Province, Dashti in Bushehr, Dezful in Khuzestan, and Kashan in Isfahan have already undergone review. Additionally, the necessary documentation for the Vardasht region in Isfahan province has been completed, though it is yet to be submitted, IRNA wrote.
Jalali emphasized the utmost dedication to generating export incentives for handicrafts, stating, “Our primary aim is to create financial and export incentives for the handicraft sector, while simultaneously attracting significant investment to this domain.” She further explained that such investments would yield substantial returns and added value, as the target customers for Iranian handicrafts extend beyond national borders.
Highlighting the world’s genuine appreciation for the authenticity of Iranian art and the global demand for it, Jalali stressed the need to formulate plans that connect this art to the literature of development. She also drew attention to Iran Craft Week, reminding that June 10 is World Handicrafts Day. According to the implemented agenda, each day of this week has been assigned a specific theme and slogan.
Jalali expressed, “We have made considerable efforts to demonstrate that handicrafts can foster cultural interactions between countries, cities, and people.” She went on to add that every Iranian household has the potential to be a handicraft workshop. Consequently, joint planning was carried out in collaboration with Saad Hani Al-Qaddumi, the President of the World Crafts Council. As part of this effort, a visit was organized from Ardebil’s Anbaran to the Anbaran neighborhood in Astara, which has been designated as the national city of gelim (a type of flat-woven carpet). This showcased the pivotal role that handicrafts can play in cultural, social, economic, and political domains.
Jalali further remarked that Anbaran represents culture, art, history, taste, and historical intelligence, particularly emphasizing the invaluable role of women and their contributions to the family.