Anzali Free Zone to become Iran’s handicraft export hub to Caspian Sea nations
Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage is set to transform Anzali Free Zone into a major export hub for handicrafts to Caspian Sea littoral states, the deputy minister for handicrafts announced at the seventh Iran Expo 2025.
Maryam Jalali, during a meeting with Mostafa Taati-Moghaddam, CEO of Anzali Free Zone Organization, emphasized the strategic role of the northern free zone as a “launching pad” for Iranian handicrafts to reach markets around the Caspian Sea, IRNA reported.
“Anzali has the potential to become a miniature Iran, a space where foreign tourists and traders can familiarize themselves with Iran’s cultural diversity whilst benefitting from the free zone infrastructure for handicraft trade,” Jalali pointed out.
The deputy minister stressed the need to bolster export infrastructure, noting that “establishing a specialized customs office for handicrafts, standardizing products, and enhancing artisans’ commercial knowledge are our top priorities in this region.”
Taati-Moghaddam revealed plans for the country’s largest handicraft complex in Anzali, centered around wickerwork produced in the national wickerwork village of Fashtake. “This complex, involving more than 1,800 artisans, will be operational by the end of the current year, serving as a platform for training, production, exhibition and export of handicrafts,” he stated.
He also announced the launch of Antonov-26 cargo flights between Rasht and a Russian province, with a capacity of six tons, scheduled bi-weekly specifically for transporting handicrafts to target markets around the Caspian Sea.
The deputy minister highlighted the establishment of a public joint-stock handicraft export development company that will enter the capital market.
“This company can play a key role in attracting investors and transform Anzali into one of the country’s main gateways for handicraft exports,” she explained.
Iran’s handicraft exports have reached $224 million in the current Persian calendar year, with an equal amount estimated to have been exported through suitcase trade. The government is actively working to remove barriers to handicraft exports, with the resolution of foreign exchange commitments in collaboration with the Central Bank being a major step forward.
Jalali emphasized that free zones, particularly Anzali, offer unparalleled capacity for implementing economic diplomacy based on culture due to their proximity to important markets like Russia.
“Iranian handicrafts are not just commodities but living narratives of the country’s history, art, and ecosystem, which have eager audiences in today’s world,” she remarked, describing handicrafts as a vital link between economy and tourism.