Semnan exhibition highlights Iran’s handicrafts support drive
Iran is expanding government support for its handicrafts sector beyond production to cover the entire value chain, including market development, packaging, branding, marketing and online and in-person sales, a deputy minister said, highlighting efforts to improve artisans’ access to domestic and international markets.
Barzin Zarghami, deputy minister for handicrafts and traditional arts at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, said the new approach aimed to address longstanding challenges in the sector, particularly the limited scope of government assistance and the difficulties producers face in bringing their products to market.
Speaking to IRNA on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the Sixth National Handicrafts Exhibition in Semnan, Zarghami said one of the main problems facing handicrafts producers was the incomplete value chain, with previous government support largely concentrated on production.
“In previous years, handicrafts were largely regarded as a local and home-based activity, and government support was therefore mainly directed at production,” he said, adding that other stages, including market development, packaging, branding and sales, had received less attention.
Referring to the recently approved document on the handicrafts value chain, Zarghami said its main objective was to strengthen all stages of the sector, adding that working groups had been established to oversee its implementation.
Under the new approach, support will extend to market development, packaging, branding, direct sales and the promotion of products through online platforms and digital marketplaces.
“Without completing this chain, producers cannot gain proper access to markets,” he said.
He added that the ministry also planned to broaden financial assistance, which had previously focused mainly on production, to cover other activities such as marketing, packaging and participation in international exhibitions.
Zarghami also stressed the need to bring handicrafts production closer to market demand and consumer preferences, noting that a gap sometimes existed between the products offered by artisans and what customers were looking for.
To address the issue, the ministry is pursuing programs in design, training and product development to help artisans adapt their products to contemporary market needs while preserving their artistic and cultural value.
Standardization and quality assurance are also among the ministry’s priorities, he said, adding that procedures for assessing product quality, verifying authenticity and classifying artisans were being pursued to strengthen consumer confidence.
On international activities, Zarghami said participation in overseas exhibitions remained a regular part of the ministry’s agenda. Iran’s most recent participation was in China, where artisans and private-sector representatives also took part.
He said such events provided opportunities for Iranian artisans to become familiar with international developments in the handicrafts sector while introducing the country’s cultural and artistic products to foreign audiences and potential markets.
The deputy minister also pointed to plans to organize an international handicrafts exhibition, saying such events could help artisans promote their products, establish direct links with customers and exchange experiences with their counterparts.
Meanwhile, Jalal Tajik, director general of Semnan Province’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization, said the exhibition provided an opportunity for artisans from different parts of the country to promote their products, expand market opportunities and exchange experiences.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Tajik said stronger professional ties among craftspeople could pave the way for their participation in similar exhibitions in other provinces, helping expand product visibility and boost sales.
He also pointed to rising raw material costs and marketing difficulties as major challenges facing artisans, adding that difficult economic conditions had made their work increasingly challenging.
Despite these obstacles, he said, craftspeople remained committed to their work and continued production, expressing hope that the government would provide further support to improve their working conditions.
The sixth National Handicrafts Exhibition is being held at Ghadir Hall in Semnan from November 14 to 20, featuring 148 booths showcasing handicrafts and handmade products from across Iran.