According to Total News, quoting from Gashtogozar News, on the occasion of National Carpet Day and World Handicrafts Day, we went to one of the board members of the Iranian Handmade Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association to have a friendly conversation with him. In the following, you will read the conversation of Total News with Hamed Chamanrokh, the Secretary of the National Carpet Center.
One of the problems of our weavers in the country is the copying of Iranian carpet designs by India and Pakistan. This will affect the Iranian carpet industry. What are your solutions for monopolizing Iranian carpet designs?
It is not within the power of the private sector to monopolize Iran’s carpet design, and the government must think of a plan. In order to protect carpet designs, designs must be registered internationally. Unfortunately, the government has not created the necessary structures in the field of map registration, naturally, the producer cannot be expected to bear a lot of money to register a plan. The government can make this process easier by creating structures within the country. Instead of registering the plan in WIPO of Switzerland, they should go to the representative in the country and instead of paying in dollars, the fees will be paid in Riyals. For example, the Gabbeh design was registered globally by the government, but this design is offered by Indians in Germany. Despite the many follow-ups of the father of World of Gabbeh, Mr. Zolanwari, and the lack of support from the government, optimal use of the global registry has not been done.
How much was the export of handmade carpets last year?
According to statistics, the amount of exports was below 50 million dollars last year, but the amount of exports was up to 2 billion and 100 million dollars not so long ago.
What are the export barriers from your point of view?
Iranian carpets have been sanctioned several times by the United States. Millions of people are working in this industry. All employment, export and marketing costs are borne by the private sector and the government does not provide any support to the handwoven carpet industry. For example, the carpet production process is a multi-year process; it means that it takes several years from the time the carpet is created to the time of sale. The design of each carpet (color and size) is unique. In order to supply the target market, each carpet must be transported so that the intended customer likes it and the carpet is sold. This process requires time. One of our major problems in the field of export is the obligation to return the currency.
What strategies do you have to increase exports this year?
The discussion of macro policies is the responsibility of Iran’s National Carpet Center. In the past, the Director of Iran’s National Carpet Center was the Deputy Minister, while in the new term, the Deputy Minister is in this position. In my personal opinion, as a producer, due to the export barriers, I do not want to increase exports, and I prefer to decrease exports. During several correspondences with Iran’s National Carpet Center, we raised the issue of amending the customs regulations for the entry of carpets into the country. It is hoped that with the support of the government and the amendment of the customs regulations, there will be an opening in handwoven carpets.
In the area of carpet exports, what is the rank of Iran in the world? What strategies do you have in mind to improve the ranking?
Export statistics all over the world are based on the year, but the statistics in Iran are published with a delay of several months. According to the latest published statistics, Iran ranks fourth out of five countries in the world. The countries of India, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan have the first to fifth ranks of exports in the world.
In my opinion, it is not possible to upgrade the position with the current conditions. The infrastructure must be improved. Unfortunately, in the current situation, we have lost both the target market and the taste of customers. To recreate the market, it is necessary to market and identify the target market. In the most optimistic case, this process will take at least five years.