1.5 million people work in the carpet industry in Iran
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Omid Entrepreneurship Fund said: Most of the clients and also most of the rural women are heads of households weaving Iranian carpets, and paying attention to this industry will be an important step towards poverty alleviation in Iran.
Ali Rabiee said at a nationwide meeting of heads of hand-woven carpet departments of industry, mining and trade organizations across Iran in Chabahar: Creating jobs in Iran’s hand-woven carpet industry, which is a tool of culture and cultural diplomacy, is much cheaper than other industries; For example, we have to invest 12,000 billion tomans in a petrochemical plant so that we can employ a maximum of 700 people, but investing in handmade carpets, in addition to being in great demand in the world, also strengthens our culture.
He said that during the sanctions period, Exports of Iranian carpets increased from one thousand tons to 400 tons; He added: In recent years, the harsh sanctions and the traditional nature of the sellers and exporters of Iranian handmade carpets, many of our target markets, although unique to Iranian handmade carpets, have been conquered by other countries such as Turkey; Sanctions are one thing; If carpet exporters and traders get out of the traditional mode and start exporting by establishing large companies, Iranian hand-woven carpets will definitely find their true place in markets and cultures around the world.
The Chairman of the Board of the Omid Entrepreneurship Fund stated: Currently, 1.5 million people are active in the Iranian hand-woven carpet industry; In addition to economic and cultural aspects, handmade carpets also have social aspects; Most of the clients, as well as most of the rural women, are the heads of Iranian carpet weavers’ households, and paying attention to this industry will be an important step towards poverty alleviation in Iran.
The former Minister of Labor, Cooperatives and Social Welfare pointed out: 80% of Iran’s handmade carpets are exported. With the strengthening of the handmade carpet industry and the presence of powerful companies for marketing and sales; There will be a significant shift in employment and poverty alleviation.
It is worth mentioning that the national meeting of the heads of handmade carpet departments of industry, mining and trade organizations is being held in Chabahar with the presence of Ali Rabiee, former Minister of Labor and Chairman of Omid Entrepreneurship Fund and managers of National Carpet Center of Iran.
