Iran's Kurdistan province drafts plan to revive handmade carpet sector

SANANDAJ, Iran — Provincial authorities in Iran's Kurdistan region are preparing a plan to address structural problems in the handmade carpet industry, the provincial directorate of Industry, Mine and Trade said. Taha Semi, the directorate's assistant for trade and business development, outlined the sector's challenges at an expert meeting in Sanandaj, saying an accurate diagnosis and urgent, workable solutions were necessary for the industry to develop. The region is one of Iran's main centers of handmade carpet production, known for its traditional patterns and tens of thousands of active weavers and artisans. But Semi said the sector has been losing competitiveness because of a lack of health and social insurance coverage, difficulties in sourcing quality raw materials, limited access to credit for small businesses, and barriers to reaching international markets. According to Semi, the proposed revival plan aims to diversify sales channels, increase producers' participation in national and international fairs, and strengthen the position of Kurdistan carpets in target markets with the support of commercial attachés at Iranian embassies. The recommendations drafted at the meeting are to be forwarded to the relevant ministries and authorities in Tehran for conversion into an incentive package.