Press Release

Afghanistan Showcases Carpets to the World

Kabul, Afghanistan  | Thursday, January 22, 2009

Domotex 2009, in Hannover, Germany, provided 26 Afghan carpet producers the opportunity to showcase their handmade carpet art in the world’s biggest carpet trade fair. 

Domotex 2009, “The World of Flooring,” brought together thousands of people involved in the carpet trade from January 17-20, 2009.  In total, over 1,300 flooring exhibitors from 60 nations participated in the event.  Among them, Afghan exhibitors were impressively displayed together under a stand custom built by the Turquoise Mountain Foundation, featuring traditional Afghan woodwork and architecture.  An attractive display, beautiful carpet products, and a group of well-prepared Afghan trades people, carefully selected from across Afghanistan, built on the success of last year’s show, which produced an estimated $14M in gross revenue and awarded one Afghan carpet maker with a top prize for best modern design.  Another successful showing this year continued to restore the place of Afghan carpets in the international marketplace and bolstered a positive image of Afghanistan’s business climate. 

Afghanistan is uniquely positioned to offer the world unique woven masterpieces due to its rich, centuries-old tradition of carpet-weaving skills and artistry.  Visibility on the world stage allows Afghanistan to capitalize on this position that can both generate wealth and share a special part of Afghan culture.  Mr. Subhan Qul, the managing director of Hali Weavers, a leading Afghan exporter, noted that, “We are trying to help open a strategic window to bring to buyers’ attention the quality Afghanistan has to offer by bringing forward the true quality of Afghanistan’s skills as a weaving nation.”

To facilitate Afghanistan’s participation at this and other similar trade fairs, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its small and medium enterprise development project, collaborated with the Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan (EPAA) to support the delegation’s event admission, marketing, logistics, and other preparatory coordination.  The USAID project works with Afghan partners like EPAA who share a common goal of obtaining international market access for Afghan exports.  Increased market access for Afghan exports is one critical component necessary to stimulate economic growth in Afghanistan, creating broad-based wealth and eradicating poverty. 

More information about the Afghan Exhibit at Domotex 2009 can be found at www.carpetpromotion.af.