Cable – Afghanistan’s exports of carpet exceeded $ 9 million in the first half of 2024, according to the announcement of the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Trade, which reflects the importance of this craft industry as one of the most important and most representative sectors of the economy for the cultural heritage of the Afghan people.
Global attention
A spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Trade, Abdel Salam Jawad, said that in the first half of 2024, more than 2,400 tons of Afghan carpets were exported to a group of global markets with a value ranging between 8.7 million and 9 million dollars.
Main markets of Afghan carpet have emerged, according to the speaker, including Pakistan, Turkey, the Emirates, Uzbekistan, Italy, the United States, India and China.
Jawad adds in an interview with Al -Jazeera Net: “The Ministry is working to facilitate the trade environment and enhance the ability of Afghan products to global competition, including carpets, so that this industry is an essential pillar in the growth of the national economy.”
Although carpets constitute a small percentage of the total exports of Afghanistan – which exceeds one billion dollars – it is still considered one of the main sources of national income in the country.
Cultural and literal symbolism
The Afghan carpet, in addition to being an economic product, is part of the identity of the Afghan people and its cultural heritage, and this industry is characterized by high -quality handy knitting techniques, and the strings made of wool and silk are used, which highlights it among the global industries.
Each region in Afghanistan is distinguished by a special style of carpets that reflects its cultural specificity, from the warm colors carpets to the rugs of the decorative Herat, which is drawn from its art from Persian culture.
Among the most important areas of the Afghan carpet industry are the northern states such as Balkh, Josejan, Farib, Simanjan and Talaa, and Turkmen carpets are among the most prominent and most expensive types of carpets that reflect ancient features of culture, heritage and art.
“Afghanistan carpets have a special character and a distinctive identity, no other carpet can compete in global markets. It is an industry that extends its roots throughout the ages, and still maintains its high quality.”
Challenges
Despite the successes achieved by Afghan carpet exports, the carpet industry in Afghanistan faces many challenges that affect its competitiveness and effectiveness in global markets, and among the most prominent of these challenges:
- Severe global competitionThe Afghan carpet industry faces strong competition from other countries such as Iran and Turkey, and they enjoy distinct carpet industries, which affects the share of Afghanistan in global markets, especially in light of the advanced production techniques of the two competing countries.
Some carpet merchants in Afghanistan complain that Pakistan Afghan carpets are issued as a Pakistani industry to international markets, which negatively affects the Afghan carpet market and its reputation. - Economic and political crisesThe security and political conditions that Afghanistan is going through negatively affects the stability of production, hinders the provision of raw materials regularly and raises production costs, which leads to direct effects on the competitiveness of Afghan carpets in international markets.
- Logistical infrastructureDespite the great importance of the carpet industry, the logistical infrastructure in Afghanistan still needs great improvements, as the country lacks a strong infrastructure in the field of transport and shipping, which impedes the arrival of carpets to global markets faster and more effective.
- International visas and tradeAfghan merchants and exporters face challenges in obtaining travel visas to many countries, which impedes their presence in international commercial exhibitions, which makes it difficult to expand in new markets and introduce the world to the Afghan carpet.
- Lack of modern technologyWhile Afghan carpets have high quality thanks to handicrafts, the sector lacks modern production techniques that will raise productivity and reduce cost, which makes Afghan carpets more expensive than carpets that are producing factories in some competing countries.
Carpet knitting
Recently, with the high unemployment rates in Afghanistan, some residents of the Afghan capital, Kabul, headed to knitting carpets as a way to meet economic challenges.
Mustafa, one of the residents of Kabul, told Al -Jazeera Net that he started sewing carpets with his family after he lost his job, adding: “The works have become few, and now there is no work. I was previously working in the carpet industry, and today I decided to return to this work to secure some income “.
Another Afghan citizen named Mahdi says he worked for 4 years in a bakery, while his family members were working in the carpet industry, and he adds: “Today, I decided to participate in the carpet industry to secure a fixed source of income for my family.”
For his part, Mohamed Hassan, an official in a carpet knitting workshop, says that the number of people who started learning to knit carpets has increased significantly since the beginning of the Taliban government, especially with the increasing demand for carpets in the winter.
The government’s role in enhancing exports
On the other hand, the Afghan carpet makers and exporters believe that increasing carpet production will contribute significantly to strengthening its exports, and Nour Ahmed Nuri, Vice President of the Federation, says: “When production increases, carpet exports will also increase. Currently, 95% of the Afghan carpet is exported to Outside, while only 5% are sold inside Afghanistan. “
Carpet sewing is one of the important industries in the country, as most citizens participate in the states of northern Afghanistan, especially in Josejan, Balkh, Farib and Serbal.
Request for women
In the state of Bakhshan, northern Afghanistan, the number of women working in the carpet industry has increased significantly, and many craftsmen pointed out that carpet production in this state has increased significantly, but the main problem facing them is the lack of markets to sell products.
“There are challenges in this field, such as the absence of a carpet market or carpet devices. If these problems are solved, our products can be sold well,” says Roya, one of the craftsmen in the state of Bakhshan.
“We ask the Afghan government to open a market for us to be able to sell our products.”
The high production of production is attributed to the joining of many girls who were receiving education, but their education was stopped due to the current circumstances, so that work in the carpet industry.
In this context, the official in the federation of carpets in the province of Badakhashan, Abdel -Ali Yafli, told Al -Jazeera Net: “Many girls who were in schools, who were at home without work, now they started to sew the carpet, which contributed greatly to the growth of this industry. “.
It should be noted that the Directorate of Industry and Trade in the state of Bakhshan is working to enhance the marketing of craft products for women by establishing a commercial center for them and organizing exhibitions to market local carpets.
The Director of Projects Affairs in the Directorate of Industry and Trade in the state of Bakhshan, Thahamuddin Rahmani, told Al -Jazeera Net that the Directorate is working hard to open markets for these products and organize exhibitions for local producers.
According to official statistics, more than a thousand women work in 15 provinces of the state of Bakhshan in the field of carpet trade, and this number is expected to increase in the near future.
Promising horizons
Afghanistan seeks to enhance its exports of carpets by organizing local and international exhibitions, aiming to open new markets and introduce consumers to the quality of Afghan products, and in this context, merchants and craftsmen believe that holding international exhibitions will increase the chances of exporting carpets to various parts of the world.
Aman Allah Aziz, one of the Afghan carpet sellers, said in an interview with Al -Jazeera Net: “We hope that the Afghan government will open the air passages, to facilitate the export of carpets to Europe, America and Australia. Opening these corridors will help enhance our exports to larger markets, and contribute to providing our products to a broader audience.” .
The role of the government and the union
In the context of the efforts of the Afghan government to support the carpet industry, a member of the Afghanistan Carpet Federation, Ahmed Zadeh, said: “The Afghan government must continue to provide commercial facilities for manufacturers and exporters, including support for the organization of local and international exhibitions, and improving logistical facilities to facilitate export.”
He added: “If more support is provided with regard to the issuance of visas for merchants and the activation of the air corridors, then carpet exports will grow significantly, which will contribute to providing additional job opportunities and achieving economic growth.”
Between challenges and opportunities
While the carpet industry in Afghanistan faces multiple challenges in terms of global competition and economic conditions, there are great opportunities for growth and expansion in new markets through improving commercial facilities and organizing exhibitions.
With the continued efforts of the government and the private sector, the Afghan carpet can witness a bright future that enhances its position as one of the most important Afghan exports on the global scene.
