TEHRAN,Iran,Sep.15
Trend:
Iran's handmade production has increased four times in the first half of the current Iranian year (started March 20, 2020), said the head of Iran National Carpet Center.
"The increase of production was due to closure of some businesses due to Coronavirus pandemic which led to the recruitment of weavers," said Farahnaz Rafe, Trend reports citing ILNA.
"Statistics from monthly production and sale of handmade carpet show a four-time increase in production. A total of 950,000 square meters of handmade carpet were woven in the first five months of the current Iranian year (started March 20, 2020)," she said.
"Considering the increase of foreign currency rate in recent years, increase of inflation rate and rise of tariffs on imports of silk and other basic material affected the prices," she added.
"The Trade and Promotion Organization is providing incentives for export of non-oil exports that would revive handmade carpet," she said.
"Forming handmade carpet unions in provinces is another step taken by Iran National Carpet Center to boost production and export," she added.
"Handmade carpet has high value and it could create jobs in a difficult economic situation in cities and villages as well as prevent migration. Exporting handmade carpet would bring foreign currency revenues," she said.
"The global demand for handmade carpet has declined due to sanctions and now COVID-19 has reduced export," she said.
"Due to difficult situation, handmade carpet exporters can return foreign currency revenue twelve months after the sale of the commodity, although the issue should be reviewed for small industries so the Central Bank of Iran would exempt them from returning foreign currency revenue," she said.