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World Handicrafts Day
Iran’s crafts diversity stands out: Minister
Speaking at a ceremony commemorating the Handicrafts Week (June 7 to 15) and World Handicrafts Day (June 10), Ezzatollah Zarghami stated, highlighted the late president’s particular emphasis on handicrafts, saying, “The first step towards transformation in any field is a change in perspective. Initially, handicrafts were considered secondary in this ministry, but now their missions have become primary due to the transformation in perspective initiated by the late president.”
The ceremony coincided with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the World Crafts Council, IRNA wrote.
He added, “Today, with 3.5 billion people having visa waivers to enter the country, there have been improvements in handicrafts. However, we’re still at the beginning of appreciating the diversity and value of this art.”
He continued, “Anyone aiming for handicraft exports faces no obstacles, as the president has resolved it. He did the same in tourism. I suggested that if we want Iranian tourism to flourish, we should reduce the strictness we have in visa issuance and make it unilateral, which he agreed to.”
Zarghami emphasized the late president’s emphasis on handicrafts supply, noting, “For this reason, he ordered all governors to establish handicraft markets at the entrances of cities. Some have done it, but many have yet to do so.”
Deputy minister for handicrafts and traditional arts highlighted achievements, including facilitating temporary export of goods, revising export base prices, tax exemptions, focusing on the private sector and chambers of commerce, insuring 10,000 artisan families, adding 150,000 to employment, training 65,000 individuals through various programs, and achieving $825 million in exports, among other initiatives of the Tourism Ministry.
Maryam Jalali addressed representatives and ministers from other departments, saying, “Handicrafts are not just one or a few hundred products; they are a cultural, social, economic, and political institution that, in recent days, has revitalized attention to the four dimensions of culture, society, economy, and policy, which couldn’t have been achieved without the synergy of all sections.”
Director-General of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of Tehran Province, Parham Janfeshan, who stated in another part of the event, “Comprehensive employment in the country with a family-centered economy, which is handicrafts, is achieved.”
He announced, “Handicrafts are a combination of art and industry, which is mainly influential in household employment and comprehensive employment in the country. Handicrafts are an important part of this ministry.”
He added, “The province may appear to be an industrial province, but it might be interesting to know that there are 170 active handicraft fields in Tehran Province, and one-third of handicraft exports belong to this province. 15,000 registered artists in Tehran Province are active in handicrafts and traditional arts.”
June 10 is designated as World Handicrafts Day, and to commemorate this occasion, 450 programs are being implemented in various provinces of the country during World Handicrafts Day and Handicrafts Week.