An Iranian provincial official stated that Iraq should become a stable destination for the export of Iranian handicrafts, calling for targeted efforts to transform the neighboring country into a sustainable market for these products.
Amin Kugani, Deputy Head of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of Kermanshah province, noted on Tuesday that expanding the export of handicrafts to Iraq requires several conditions: identifying buyers, ensuring a targeted market presence, offering competitive prices and sales terms, and continuing negotiations until solid contracts are concluded and stable orders are secured.
According to Kugani, Iraq's proximity to Iran, shared cultural and historical ties, common border, and potential in the fields of economy, tourism, and religion make it an important strategic market for Iranian crafts.
He added that Kermanshah, which borders Iraq and has access to markets in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, as well as having long-standing cultural and commercial ties with this country, can effectively facilitate connecting Iranian producers with Iraqi buyers.
Target Markets and Market Entry Preparation
Kugani listed cities that are potential markets for Iranian handicrafts: Baghdad, Erbil, Najaf, Karbala, and Sulaymaniyah. He emphasized that importers, wholesalers, specialized retailers, hotels, tourist centers, and other potential buyers must be identified based on the characteristics and capabilities of each city.
Before sending a trade delegation, it is crucial to study market information, consumer preferences, buyer profiles, sales channels, payment terms, and import requirements so that negotiations are based on accurate data and aimed at securing real orders.
Professional entry into the Iraqi market also requires catalogs in Arabic and Kurdish, price lists for wholesale and export trade, technical product specifications, information on production capacities, delivery schedules, and sales conditions, as reported by Kugani.
Among the goods that can be presented in the Iraqi market are handmade carpets and kilims, wooden products, ceramics and tableware, enamelware and metal engraving, copper and decorative items, jewelry, small handicrafts, interior items for hotels and homes, and Iranian-style souvenirs.
However, success depends on understanding consumer purchasing power, the intended use of the goods, expectations regarding quality, packaging requirements, as well as considering competitive prices and preferences. The official noted that a unified sales strategy is not applicable to all cities and customer groups.
He called for moving from episodic market presence to targeted market development, stating that Kermanshah could become one of the main centers for expanding the export of Iranian handicrafts to Iraq due to its artists, producers, geographical location, and long-term cultural and commercial ties.
In conclusion, he stressed that achieving this goal is only possible through cooperation between state structures, the private sector, trade associations, exporters, and producers.