TEHRAN, Apr. 30 (Mehr News Agency) – Carpet exports in the previous Iranian calendar year(March 21, 2007 to March 20, 2008) dropped by 12 percent compared to the year before, Head of Iran's National Carpet Center Morteza Faraji said on Wednesday.

"According to the report released by carpet customs, in 1385 (2006-2007) $500 million worth of carpets were exported from Iran to various other countries; this number was reduced to $440 million in the previous year," he said in the opening ceremony of the Second International Carpet Exhibition held in Kish Island.

"We hope to minimize the reduction to 4 percent this year," Faraji stated while adding that all related organizations and officials will make efforts to change the process of carpet export into a rising trend.

"Hand made carpets are pieces of art, which not only create job opportunities and aid families' economy in villages, but also prevent migration from rural areas to the cities," he emphasized.

... Payvand News - 05/01/08 ...