The Deputy of Handicrafts Department of Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization today spoke at a specialized meeting on the use of embassies' capacity to develop and promote Iranian tourism and handicrafts held on the sidelines of the 11th International Conference on Tourism and Handicrafts in Isfahan. He said: “Iran ranks first in the global register of cities and villages in terms of handicrafts.”

Reported by Miras-e-Arya, quoted by Public Relations office of Isfahan Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department, on the second day of the 11th Isfahan International Tourism and Crafts Exhibition, a special meeting was held on the capacity of embassies on the entry of Iranian handicrafts and tourism to the World Markets with the participation of Gholamreza Ansari, Economic Deputy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pouya Mahmoudian, Deputy of Handicrafts Department of Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization, Fereydoon Allah Yari, Director General of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism of Isfahan Province, and a group of tourism activists, Isfahan handicrafts’ artists and foreign guests participating in the exhibition.

In this meeting, Pouya Mahmoudian, Deputy of Handicrafts Department of Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization, stated: “We need to know today that we are a guest in a city that is the second most comprehensive handicraft city in the world, while having valuable monuments.”

He further cited Iran's position in the world of handicrafts, stating: "Iran is undoubtedly the third largest producer of handicrafts according to the activity of more than a dozen of handicrafts artists while incorporating half of the world's traditional arts.”

He also added: “Today, Iran is ranked first by the World Crafts Council from the perspective of registering cities and villages in the global handicrafts list, with a city such as Isfahan being the second most comprehensive city of handicrafts, while cities such as Mashhad, Marivan, and Tabriz in terms of production of precious stones, traditional footwear, and handmade carpet, respectively are among the cities that have been selected as the global city of handicrafts.”

In an effort to implement a revitalization of the original Iranian home, he asses: “In the field of design and decoration, we strive to revitalize the traditional Iranian home model by relying on young and creative Iranian artists while also promoting this style among Iranian families while introducing it to the world.”

Representatives from Spain, Iraq, Oman, China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Cuba, Uzbekistan and Kuwait are attending the special meeting on the capacity of embassies on the entry of Iranian handicrafts and tourism to the World Markets.