Updated

A major handicrafts exhibition opened in Semnan on Sunday, with more than 150 booths of artisans from across Iran and nine traditional nomadic tents. The event was inaugurated in the presence of Barzin Zarrghami, deputy minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, and runs until November 20 at the Ghadir Exhibition Hall. Of the booths, 120 hold handicrafts from artisans in different provinces and 20 offer regional souvenirs, traditional foods and locally produced goods. The nine outdoor tents represent Semnan, Kohgiluyeh-Boyer-Ahmad, South Khorasan, Golestan, Tehran and Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, and show nomadic lifestyles, customs and local products. Samaneh Soltanipour, deputy director of handicrafts and traditional arts at the Semnan provincial department, told IRNA that live demonstrations of around five handicraft disciplines let visitors, especially younger generations, see the craftsmanship behind the work. She said the event aims to create direct sales between artisans and consumers without intermediaries, help producers learn customer preferences, and let craftspeople exchange skills and build networks. IRNA and Tehran Times reported the exhibition as a cultural event, with no economic figures given.