Carpet exhibit promoting Iran exports

Carpet exhibit promoting Iran exports
Monday, August 27, 2007 - ?2005 IranMania.com

LONDON, August 27 (IranMania) - Iran exported over $10 mln of handwoven carpet during 2000-2003, managing director of Tehran International Exhibitions Joint Stock Company said, Iran Daily reported.
Speaking at the 16th Persian Carpet Grand Exhibition, Hamid Qavam-Shahidi stated that Germany, the US and Italy were the top importers of handmade Persian rugs in the past six years.
He noted that the exhibition helps boosting Persian carpet exports given that many deals are expected in the event.
Over 400 major Iranian and foreign companies and merchants are taking part in the weeklong event which opened on Thursday and will run through Aug. 29.
The official said that export of handwoven Persian carpets would increase if rugs meet the taste of customers and are marketed properly.
Bahram Hazrati, a carpet exporter, told Iran Daily?s Farzaneh Shokri that Persian carpet industry plays an important role in job creation and bringing in hard currency revenues for the country.
Hazrati was named exemplary exporter of West Azarbaijan province in 2004.
He noted that carpet exports from the northwestern province grew by 312% in the year to March 2007.
Hazrati cited the reason for such jump in exports as producing carpets according to the tastes of foreign customers in the United States, Europe and Arab countries.
Iran is the world?s top exporter of handwoven carpets. However, exports have declined in recent years due to the emergence of rivals from India and Pakistan.
Indian and Pakistani carpet weavers imitate Iranian designs and use low-quality raw materials to create inexpensive carpets.

Zanjan to Host 1st Azeri Music Summer Festival

Zanjan to Host 1st Summer Festival

First Summer Festival will be held in Zanjan province from August 23-28 as part of efforts to introduce the province’s cultures and traditions.
Announcing this, secretary of the festival Hamid Azarshab told Iran Daily’s Farzaneh Shokri that all 35 provinces will take part in the event by presenting their cultural and tourism achievements in the fields of music, traditional sports, cultural traditions in different areas as well as the comic and satiric programs performed in the cities.
Identifying provincial capacities to attract investments is one of the main objectives of the festival, he noted, adding that taking advantage of relevant achievements of researchers, which will help the strategic development of the provinces, is also on the agenda.
Commenting on the programs of the festival, Azarshab further said that commercial exhibits as well as the ones featuring Zanjan province’s achievements in various fields such as handicrafts will be held during the event.
Organizing genuine Azari music concert, pop music concert as well as comic and theater programs are among the other programs, he said.
Zanjan Summer Festival will also include alpine cycling contests, rallies and kite festival exclusively for children, he said.
The objective of the festival is to promote tourism in the province, he said, noting that it will give the experts a chance to discuss the latest cultural and research findings.
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