DUSHANBE, April 17, Asia-Plus  -- An international two-day festival of handicraftsmen from Central Asia’s states, Afghanistan and Iran will open at the Kokhi Vahdat State Complex in Dushanbe on April 19. 

The festival is being held on occasion of a Capital City Day, which is marked in Tajikistan on third Saturday in April.    

Ms. Mukaramma Qayumova, the chairperson of the International Handicraftsmen’s Foundation Haft Paykar, told Asia-Plus that the festival, organized by Haft Paykar, the Eurasian Foundation of Central Asia and the Bactria Cultural Center in Dushanbe, is expected to bring together more than 90 handicraftsmen from the Central Asian countries Iran and Afghanistan. 

“Potters, jewelers, specialists in gold embroidery, weavers and others will demonstrate their works in the festival,” said Ms. Qayumova.  “Thus, handicraftsmen from Tashkent, Samarqand and Bukhara will demonstrate their silk wares.”    

The main objective of this handicrafts festival is to promote development of handicraft trade and expansion of cooperation among handicraftsmen from these countries.