Iran Hopes Carpet Will Work Magic on Industry
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Iran is seeking to revive its carpet industry by weaving the world’s biggest rug, which will weigh 35 tons, cover 7,100 square yards and cost $8.2 million.
“We will have two working shifts of 1,000 weavers working for 14 months nonstop,” said Karam Reza Haseli, a deputy manager at the state-supported Iranian Carpet Co. Work is to start in three months.
The carpet was ordered by the Sheik Zayed Mosque being built in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, after Iran scoured its gulf neighbors for contracts to help revive business for the country’s wool merchants, dye makers and weavers.
Hand-woven carpets are Iran’s top non-oil export, but the industry has been hit by cheaper knockoffs made in Pakistan, China and India.
The size record for a carpet is held by the 5,200-square-yard rug woven for the Sultan Qaboos mosque in Oman.
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