“Sitting on the eastern edge of old downtown Texarkana, Home Furniture Co. provided decades of quality furniture for Texarkana’s citizens.”

The large “Home Furniture Company” sign at the corner of Texas Boulevard and West Seventh Street had been there so long that Texarkana residents were caught up short when this business closed in late 2005 or early 2006. This business had one of the prime locations in town, being located on two main arteries through town. Hundreds of cars passed by the store daily.
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Second Handicrafts Exhibition which is currently underway in the southeastern city of Kerman has attracted a large number of visitors, Iran Daily reported.

Although the organizers of the exhibition were concerned about the attendance in the event for the first two days, more than 21,000 people visited the exhibition on the opening day on Thursday and 42,000 on Friday.

Organizers of the Second Handicrafts Exhibition predict that the number of people visiting the exhibition will reach 200,000 people by the closing day on December 5.

A visitor told IRNA that visiting the exhibition is worth it. Read more…

Vietnamese traditional handicraft products are being showcased at the APEC Local Cultural Industry Virtual Exposition (ALCIVE) at http://www.alcive.tw .

Vietnam has contributed embroidery paintings from southern An Giang province, silver carved products from northern Thai Binh province, Dong Ho paintings from northern Bac Ninh province, Bat Trang ceramics and rattan and bamboo from Hanoi.

Vietnam and 12 other participating APEC economies have their own online exhibition halls at the website, showcasing their products through photos, pictures, text, animation and video footage.

The Division of Community Development and Culture will stage a handicraft exposition, fashion and flare as well as a flag hoisting ceremony with an economic benefit later this year.

Community Development and Culture Secretary Cynthia Alfred said the groundwork for these events was laid about a month ago with the distribution of information to over 11,500 households in the island. She said stage two would involve registration of the participants in the events.
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Deputy head of the Handicraft Department of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (CHTO), Mojtaba Qasemi, announced that five permanent exhibitions of handicraft will be set up in foreign countries, the Persian service of CHN reported.

Speaking at the 5th Exhibition of Cultural Heritage and Tourism recently held in the northeastern capital Mashhad, Qasemi said, “Holding several professional exhibits inside the country, avoiding the imports of non-Iranian handicraft to the country, urging the public organizations to present handicraft as rewards, and sending handicraft to Iranians residing abroad as their Noruz gifts are among other programs of the department.” Read more…

Deputy head of the Handicraft Department of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (CHTO), Mojtaba Qasemi, announced that five permanent exhibitions of handicraft will be set up in foreign countries, the Persian service of CHN reported.

Speaking at the 5th Exhibition of Cultural Heritage and Tourism recently held in the northeastern capital Mashhad, Qasemi said, “Holding several professional exhibits inside the country, avoiding the imports of non-Iranian handicraft to the country, urging the public organizations to present handicraft as rewards, and sending handicraft to Iranians residing abroad as their Noruz gifts are among other programs of the department.” Read more…

The Nausori Town Council has submitted a proposal to the Government to convert the old Rewa Bridge into a pedestrian mall.

Nausori Mayor Vikash Singh confirmed that initial plans of the Town Council were to convert the old bridge into a walk-thru flea market.

He said the plans were submitted to the Public Works Department.

However, PWD is yet to inform the council of a decision on the future of the old bridge.

Singh said the NTC was optimistic the Government would approve its plans. Read more…

A locally made `giant’ knife caught the attention of the crowds who flocked to the Muara Beach Festival 2006 recently.

The knife or locally known as “Pamarang” is considered unique due to its size. The knife can weigh up to 12 kg with its sheath and nine kg without the cover.

Displayed at the handicraft exhibition during the festival, the massive knife not only wowed the visitors but also Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Major General (R) Awg. Haji Mohammad bin Haji Daud, who was the chief guest at the event. Read more…

The Vietnam Engines and Agricultural Machinery Corporation (VEAM) is pooling efforts to boost manufacturing of its traditional products to win against imported ones, especially those imported from China, in the domestic market.

VEAM’s engines and agricultural machinery has created a firm foothold in the local market with expanding market share.

In 2000, the corporation occupied only 5% of the domestic market. The figure has now been increased to 25% and is expected to reach 30% later this year. Read more…

An exhibition of handicrafts is being held at Bantul regency’s Gabusan Art Market to help artisans rebuild their businesses after the May 27 earthquake.

The quake destroyed many of the regency’s handicraft industries, including earthenware workshops in Kasongan, batik workshops in Imogiri and leather-craft workshops in Manding.

Both the buildings and handicrafts, many ready for sale, were damaged.

Up to 50 artisans are represented in the monthlong exhibition, which opened on June 27. Earthenware pots, statues and batik are among the goods on sale. Read more…