Which countries in the world do Iranian carpets spread on the soil?
Handmade carpets are known all over the world by the name of Iran and have a great impact on the employment of villagers in deprived areas and women heads of households, but in the past few years due to sanctions, its export has faced problems.
In addition to foreign sanctions, the decisions and decisions taken by the authorities have increased the pressure of sanctions on carpet weavers and carpet exporters.
According to exporters of hand-woven carpets, the Central Bank of Export has been slowing down since the launch of the currency commitment system, and many other traders are reluctant to export carpets.
According to the statistics, in the period of 1381-1393, the export of carpets has experienced a decrease of about 60% and has increased from 122.53 billion rials in 2004 to 49.51 billion rials in 1391.
According to the National Carpet Center of Iran, the United States is the largest buyer of Iranian carpets, and in 1394, 186,4241 kilograms of carpets worth $ 1256,42328 were exported to the United States, which according to Fereshteh Dastpak, head of the National Carpet Center of Iran, reached zero in 1998. Germany is the second largest buyer of Iranian carpets.
Unfortunately, since 1397, US sanctions have been imposed on Iranian handmade carpets, reducing their exports.
Reduction of handmade carpet exports since 1398
Bahrami, the head of the Handicrafts, Handicrafts and Tourism Commission of the Iranian Chamber of Cooperatives, said about the export of handmade carpets: Exports of handmade carpets in 1398 were about $ 70 million and so far we have not seen such a decrease in exports of handmade carpets.
He added: During the previous years, in the worst conditions, the export of carpets was not less than $ 400 million, even during the war and after that, the export of handmade carpets had better conditions than in 1398.
Regarding the reasons for the decrease in carpet exports in 1398, Bahrami said: The US government has boycotted handmade carpets after the country’s missile industry.
He added: After the US sanctions, the government had to make arrangements to export to other countries, but unfortunately the central bank issued a directive to meet its foreign exchange obligations, which became a barrier and a big loophole for carpet exports.
Bahrami stated: The absence of foreign traders in carpet exhibitions and the decrease in the desire of merchants to export carpets by handing out instructions to meet foreign exchange obligations with the aim of reducing carpet exports has been handmade and the process of reducing exports has continued until this year.
He continued: In 1399, with the outbreak of corona, most of the carpet workshops were closed and carpet exhibitions were not held. The prices of raw materials, especially silk and wool, have risen sharply. Have a carpet market.
Bahrami said: Carpet production is not such that if a workshop is closed, we can easily start it, and if carpets are collected from houses, it is almost impossible to restart them.
The head of the Commission for Handmade Carpets, Handicrafts and Tourism of the Iranian Chamber of Cooperatives said: People who get up from behind the carpet go to jobs that have more income.
Bahrami said: Facilities will not be paid to carpet weavers. Their insurance has also been removed and in a way, the officials have increased the damage caused by the decisions taken by the sanctions and foreign competitors have taken global markets from our country.
He said: In previous years, Iranian carpets were ranked first in the world, but last year we dropped to third place, and this year we will go to a lower position with the current trend.
The head of the Handicrafts, Handicrafts and Tourism Commission of the Iranian Chamber of Cooperatives added: Pakistan, Egypt, India and Turkey have a higher position in the production of carpets in the world than our country.
The flagship carpet of Iranian art
Bahrami said about the solution to this stagnation in the export of handmade carpets: the US government boycotted Iranian handmade carpets, because carpets are considered the artistic flag of Iran and the production of handmade carpets is a complement to the development of agriculture and animal husbandry.
He added: In the face of this embargo, the government should have made it easier for producers to support themselves through insurance, low-interest facilities and tax evasion.
Bahrami stated: The Central Bank has closed the way for exports with the approval of foreign exchange inflows, and if there is no export, we will not have any production.
Currently, more than half of the carpet production workshops have been closed, he said. Just as the government supported the automotive industry, it can support carpet workshops.
He added: Since 1393, no carpet weaving has been insured, and those who were insured have had their insurance revoked, all of which are anti-production measures.
Bahrami stated: In the year of the leap year of production and at the time of the outbreak of Corona, no assistance was given to carpet weaving workshops.
He said: Thousands of Iranian carpets have been exported abroad in the past years, which currently need to be repaired and refurbished, and the return of these carpets to the country and their refuges has the greatest added value, but the customs do not allow this. Carpets are sent to Turkey for refueling and have created a lot of jobs for the country, and we have stopped employment and production with our own hands.
Bahrami added: Carpet is the most important commodity that the whole world knows by the name of Iran, and with the approvals that the government has had, we have stopped its export.
Regarding the launch of the carpet system, he said: The carpet system started working at the beginning of this year and services such as carpet weaving card extension, carpet weaver insurance extension and carpet sale have been considered, but unfortunately there is no financial turnover in this system and most of the capital goes to The market for gold and dollars has gone up, and there is no advertising for handmade carpets.
Bahrami stated: Handmade carpets have been taken out of the household basket.
In a situation where oil exports are in trouble, the government can provide products such as carpets and replace them with oil by providing facilities and providing incentives to carpet weavers.
