Global financial gloom hurts carpet exports

13 Dec '08

1 min read

It seems that demon of global recession has been able to swallow Afghanistan as well.

This is quite evident from the fact that carpet exports from Afghanistan have fallen by 50 percent in the last month.

According to the Export Development Department of Afghanistan, 65 percent of country's total exports and 90 percent of its carpet exports reaches to international markets via Pakistan. Now, Pakistani Rupee has depreciated against US Dollar by 22 percent, creating difficulty for the Afghani exporters.

Afghani carpets worth US $70 million, that accounts of mere 10 percent of the total produce are sold as 'Afghan' on the international markets. The rest are sold in Pakistan's name, bringing more than $250 million into Afghanistan per annum.

Market experts are of the opinion with the deteriorating situation, most of the carpet weavers are turning to other occupations, and if the current scenario persists for a longer period, it is quite possible that the carpet industry will slumber very soon.

In the Meanwhile the Export Development Department is trying hard to find a solution for this problem, and expand the carpet industry in the country.

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