The Exemplary Exporter in Year 2003 at the Carpet & Souvenir Oasis

Mr. Mirzazadeh owns a huge gallery of hand-woven carpets and other traditional handicrafts in Hamburg, Germany.

"The Carpet and Souvenir Oasis is so special in that it is a very important center that incorporates and brings together people from all over the world who are interested in this art. It is also a way to educate people about the value of these carpets that adorn their houses", he said.

"I visit the Oasis every year, and each time I find that there are more carpets and more variety,like the Asfahani, Tabreez and Kum, and I have managed to strike many deals during these visits. I have inherited this profession from my forefathers, and our family has been in this industry over 60 years."

"The people who buy the most carpets are European and Germans especially are highly interested in good carpets. They particularly want the traditional Iranian carpets that are hand crafted, and are based on natural colours and fibres. These carpets gain even more character when they age. They look for the colour, design and type- in that order. Many Germans invest in the carpet industry annually, reflecting their passion for these creations", he said.

During his visits to the region, he visits places renowned for carpet making and the next visit is to Tabreez in Iran, where the artisans are of extreme skill and it is the Tabreez carpets that have the most value in the European market. He also assists people in selecting the carpet based on their décor and need.

Mr. Mirzazadeh is the first recipient of the industry award in Germany in 2003.