During the visit of a delegation from the Handicrafts Association of the League of Arab States to Isfahan, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Handicrafts Association and Isfahan Chamber of Commerce.
Amir Keshani, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, at the MOU signing ceremony, held at the Abbasi Hotel, said; “Isfahan has unique opportunities for handicrafts”.
He added: Isfahan Chamber of Commerce is ready to exhibit Isfahan unique handicrafts in the Arab States in collaboration with the Association, as a strategic partner, to establish joint offices or engage in development activities, in order to get the association members familiarized with the Isfahan artists and their unique handicrafts, and in return we would provide an office in Isfahan for the association members to display their crafted products too.
Mohammed Abdul Baset Kadah, the representative of the Arab Union for Productive Families of Traditional Handicrafts, pointing to the special attention of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the field of handicrafts, announced the readiness of this union for any kind of cooperation.
He added: This association located in Syria consists of 19 members with the main objective of supporting small-size workshops producing handicrafts and traditional crafts, assist them in marketing their products, and to accomplish the support, has a networking website under construction.
Abdul Baset Kadah added: According to the association's constitution, which was signed by all Arab States, this association could only have a non-Arab nation strategic partner, which is stronger than the member states.
He added: We are ready to export Iranian handicrafts to different countries through our 19 local offices.
Majdeddin Taj, the head of Isfahan Handicraft Association, said, the common culture and religion of our nations, provide a potential to increase trade relations.
He added: In the past, there were good trade relations in the field of handicrafts between Iran and Syria, and we wish to revive the past trading capacity.
He continued: There is a readiness to provide a space for the establishment of a trade center, and in return, we request the association to provide us with a center in the Arab countries so as to present ours.
Referring to the upcoming tourism and handicrafts exhibition in December, he extended his invitation to the member states.
Export is the missing link in the handicraft production chain.
Mozhgan Izadi, a Member of the Board of Representatives and head of the tourism, handicrafts and carpet commission of the Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, stating that export is the missing link in the handicraft production chain, and said: The association has established offices in various countries in the Middle East, and we believe cooperation with them can improve the export volume of Isfahan handicrafts.
She added: During the holding of the International Handicrafts Exhibition in Tehran, a delegation from the association, headed by Mohammed Abdul Baset Kadah, the founder and head of the association, traveled to Isfahan. Visiting historical sites as well as some handicraft workshops, they were acquainted with the artists workmanship.
Mohammad Namakizadeh, the head of Isfahan Chamber of Trade Union, referring to the activity of more than 280,000 production, distribution and service providing guilds active in Isfahan province, said: Out of this number, more than 130,000 units are in Isfahan city and that more than 3,500 handicraft workers are members of the Isfahan Handicraft Trade Union.
Stating that the handicrafts of Isfahan are world-known, he said: Out of the 600 handicraft fields registered in UNESCO,that 200 belong to Isfahan.
He added: Signing of the tripartite cooperation agreement will lead to long-term cooperation between Isfahan and the Arab League Handicrafts Association.
Masoud Nik Aein, the special assistant of Isfahan governor for tourism and international affairs, stated that 2,700 high-ranking foreign delegations have visited Isfahan so far and said: Over the past 22 years, more than hundreds of major summits have been held in Isfahan. The foundation of Isfahan is based on art and the province embraces more than 22 thousand cultural, tourist and historical attractions.
He mentioned that, apart from the 27 Iranian handicrafts that are registered in the UNESCO, last year, 54 Iranian caravanserais were added to the list.
Nik Aein added: Isfahan province has 15 world-registered monuments, among which Naqsh-e-Jahan square was the first Iranian monument to be registered in UNESCO.
Stating that there are traces of more than 7000 years of civilization in about 200 km vicinity of Isfahan city, he said: The first metal melting furnaces in the world were discovered in "Erisman" region, Natanz city.
He further said: Isfahan's Atiq Mosque (Masjid Jame), one of the registered sites as a world heritage, embeds more than 1200 years of architectural history.
He continued: Isfahan's magnificent architecture is an encyclopedia of Iranian art and architecture.
He said: Since ancient times, Isfahan has been the center of peaceful coexistence between followers of monotheistic religions, in such a way that today, in addition to having the most beautiful mosques in the world, it has 13 churches, 20 synagogues and a fire temple.