HAMEDAN, Hamedan Prov. -- The managing director of the State Handicrafts Organization said in an attempt to support and promote the sale of Iranian handicrafts in world markets special facilities will be granted to foreign purchasers, IRNA reported.

Yadollah Tahernejad told reporters in Hamedan Thursday that in accordance with an agreement reached between the Central Bank of Iran(CBI) and State Handicraft Organization, unlimited special loans would be paid to those foreign buyers who open L/Cs for Iranian handicrafts abroad.

He added that by granting such facilities, the Iranian dealers may receive their money for items sold in cash and the foreign buyers would pay the value during a three to four years' time span to the Ministry of Industries with a 4 percent interest rate.

He said that the objective of providing such facilities to foreign clients is to help the Iranian handicrafts to get over the crisis they are now facing with foreign sales of their products, create rational interaction between the foreign buyers and exporting companies, and encourage the Iranian and foreign buyers abroad to open L/Cs for Iranian handicrafts in international markets.

Tahernejad added the existence of several custodians and a disruption by administrators in the management system of the field and the tendency of the artists to stick to traditional patterns are the most significant reasons behind the sharp decreases in the sale of Iranian handicrafts abroad.

He added that another challenge the Iran handicrafts industry is confronting at the moment is due to political pressures, in a way that the Iranian competitors, by creating a desirable atmosphere, have been able to attract a large section of the international markets for themselves.

He declared the Iran share of handicrafts in the European markets in the last decade stood at 76 percent, compared with their present share of only 22 percent.

He added that at present, 2,200,000 industrialists and artists are employed in handicraft industry out of which 1,700,000 are employed in carpet industry and the rest are active in other fields.

Tahernejad said in order to develop the handicrafts industry, the Scientific-Applied University of Hamedan intends to enroll 40 students in the field of pottery for the first time.

He said at the moment, 180,000 individuals are engaged in various fields of handicrafts in Hamedan Province.

thr 028 handicrafts-credit /eco/ foreign purchasers of iranian handicrafts to enjoy bonuses hamedan, hamedan prov, jan 18, irna -- the managing director of the state handicrafts organization said that in order to support and promote purchasing the iranian handicrafts in world markets special facilities will be granted to foreign purchasers. yadollah tahernejad told reporters in hamedan thursday that in accordance with the agreement made between the central bank of iran and handicraft organization, unlimited special loans would be paid to the foreign buyers who open l/cs for iranian handicrafts abroad. he added that by granting such facilities, the iranian dealers may receive their money for items sold in cash and the foreign buyers would pay the value in three to four years to the ministry if industries with a 4 percent interest rate. he said that the objective of providing such facilities to foreign clients is to help the iranian handicrafts to get over the crisis they are facing now with foreign sales of their products, creation of rational interaction between the foreign buyers and exporting companies and encouraging the iranian and foreign buyers abroad to open l/cs for iranian handicrafts in international markets. tahernejad added that the most significant reason of the stagnant state of the iranian handicrafts sales abroad is the existence of several custodians' and administrators' disruption in the management system of the field and the tendency of the artists to stick to traditional patterns. he added that another challenge the iranian handicrafts industry is facing at the moments is the political pressure, in a way that the iranian competitors, by creating a desirable atmosphere, have been able to attract a large section of the international markets to themselves. he declared the iranian share of handicrafts in the european markets in the last decade as being 76 percent, compared with their present share of only 22 percent. he considered the role of handicrafts industry in solving the unemployment problem as an important one and said that in order to create employment and develop this artistic-industrial sector, a an for creating 100,000 new job opportunities has been presented to the state employment council and in case it would be ratified, they ew employees will begin working in 160 different fields of the iranian handicrafts industry. he added that at present, 2,200,000 industrialists and artists are employed in handicraft industry out of which 1,700,000 are employed in carpet industry and the rest are active in other fields. tahernejad said that in order to develop the handicrafts industry, the scientific-applied university of hamedan intends to enroll 40 students in the field of pottery for the first time. he said that at the moment, 180,000 individuals are engaged in various fields of handicrafts in hamedan province.