TABRIZ (IRNA) -- Commerce Minister Seyed Massoud Mir Kazemi here Saturday said that hand-woven carpet is not only highly significant from aesthetic and artistic points of view, but is a living evidence of Iran's history and civilization.

He made the remark in a message addressing the second conference of students majoring in hand-woven carpets in Tabriz.

"Carpet is the most important non-oil export product and given that the greatest number of individuals is occupied in this national craft, it has a special status in the Iranian community.

"The diversity and unique features of hand-woven carpets, which is considered as a cultural, artistic and traditional product, provides enough reasons for conduction of scientific research on it," he added.

Urging the need for providing training on carpet weaving in the country's higher education system, he noted that scientific approach to the issue is of special significance.

The minister referred to the second conference of students majoring in hand-woven carpets in Tabriz as a favorable opportunity for exchange of views among university instructors, researchers, trainees as well as students who are attracted to Iranian hand-woven carpet and intend to promote it on the world scene.

The one-day conference in Tabriz was attended by 350 university instructors and students as experts and traders from 20 provinces.