Machine-woven carpets export from central Iran up %12

Kashan, Jan 5, IRNA - Over 100 million dollars worth of machine-woven carpets and related products have been exported from Aran and Bidgol township in central province of Isfahan during the nine months of the current calendar year (started March 21), a local official said on Friday.

Talking to IRNA, Head of the Office of Industries and Mines of Iran in Aran and Bidgol, Mojtaba Mahlouji said the figure was 12 percent higher compared to the same period the previous year.

Mahlouji said over $111 million worth of commodities were exported from this region of which 90 percent consistd of machine-woven carpets and products of related inudstries.

'The Iranian carpets were mainly exported to Afghanistan, Iraq, China, Germany and France as well as the African countries.'

Pointing to the production of over 45 million square meters of machine-made carpets in Aran and Bidgol last year, the official said the region ranks first in term of weaving carpets in Iran.

He said the Aran and Bidgol region could also be considered as a carpet hub in the Middle East.

Iranian National Carpet Center recently announced that the Islamic Republic exported $270 million worth of hand-woven carpets during the eight months of the current calendar year.

The figure was 31 percent higher compared to the same period the previous year.

The Iranian hand-woven carpets were mainly exported to 29 destinations, including 13 Asian, 11 European and four American countries.