WANA (Dec 06) – Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage announced that, after ongoing efforts and coordination, the export of traditional backgammon boards—an iconic Iranian craft—has been approved, expected to earn $1.5 to $2 million annually.

 

Farzad Ojani, Director-General of Marketing and Commercialization, called the approval of backgammon exports a key step in advancing policies to remove export barriers, boost foreign trade, and support artisans. He highlighted that the product is highly valued internationally for its quality and authenticity.

 

Export Destinations

Although large-scale formal exports haven’t started, Ojani said assessments show the product is already transported informally by travelers to countries like Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iraq, and diaspora communities in Germany and the U.S. He noted demand is high in Iraqi Kurdish regions, especially Sulaymaniyah.

 

Revenue and Employment Potential

According to Ojani, Iranian artisans produce backgammon boards in diverse qualities and price ranges, and exports are estimated to bring in up to $2 million annually.

 

While backgammon is not considered an independent handicraft discipline, it is produced within the wood inlay and fine woodworking sector. Expanding its export volume, he said, can boost employment in this field, especially in workshops dedicated to crafting backgammon boards.

 

Production Hubs

Ojani noted that the main production centers for Iranian backgammon boards are the provinces of Kurdistan, Kermanshah, and West Azerbaijan. Inlayed and marquetry versions of the product are also crafted in cities such as Shiraz, Isfahan, and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari.

 

He added that while backgammon is played across different age groups, it is most commonly used by individuals aged 35 and above. Regarding export methods, Ojani explained that although no comprehensive study has been conducted on export mechanisms, the product can be exported through official commercial channels as well as hand-carried or passenger exports.

 

Differences Between Iranian and Foreign Backgammon Boards

Ojani highlighted that the primary distinction between Iranian and foreign-made boards lies in the materials. Most Iranian backgammon sets are crafted from high-quality natural wood—especially walnut.

 

Additionally, Iranian boards are typically dual-purpose, featuring a backgammon board on one side and a chessboard on the other. In contrast, similar products in many countries are usually single-purpose, often limited to chessboards.

 

He added that Iranian artisans incorporate khatam inlay, a traditional Persian handicraft, into the production process—an art form not found in other countries.

 

By combining techniques such as wood inlay (khatam), carving (monabat), and fine woodworking, artisans transform the reverse side of the board into a chess set, creating a functional two-in-one product.

 

What Is Backgammon?

Backgammon—known in Persian as nard or takhte-nard—is a strategy-based board game that also involves elements of probability and calculation. Played by two people, the game progresses as players move their pieces according to dice rolls, aiming to remove all their pieces from the board before their opponent.

 

Backgammon is considered the third-oldest board game in the world, after Go and Checkers, and is particularly popular in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, especially among Iranians. In some Iranian regions, it is also referred to as “Nardestan” or “Takhte-Nardestan.”

Iran Approves Backgammon Exports, $2M Revenue Expected. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Iran Approves Backgammon Exports, $2M Revenue Expected. Social media/ WANA News Agency