Forty regions throughout Iran have been registered in the national list as areas specialized in weaving Persian carpets, out of which 19 are globally registered by the UN specialized agency, said head of Iran’s National Carpet Center here Wednesday.
Hamid Kargar noted that through correspondence with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the center has managed to register 19 specialized areas with the organization as a move to deter possible duplication of the works.
WIPO is one of the 17 specialized agencies of the United Nations, created in 1967 to encourage creative activity and promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world.
He said that NCC has always tried to safeguard the reputation and brand of Persian carpet by using every available legal instruments.
Persian carpet is a well-known brand in the global market, NCC president said adding that Persian carpet business has been under pressure in recent years.
According to Kargar, international sanctions against Iran, the US sanctions in particular, have grossly hit Iran’s carpet export.
The US ranked top among the buyers of Persian carpets so much so that until 2010, some 16.5 percent of Iran’s total carpet export valued at dlrs. 80 million went to the United States.
Another problem was the malefic effects of the sanctions against the Iranian economy leading to increased costs and risks in exporting Persian carpets.
With the lifting of sanctions, Iran has resumed carpet export to the US and the first consignment of 100 pieces of hand-woven carpets was sent to Los Angeles three weeks ago, the official said.
