The Government of Afghanistan has asked industrialists to present plans and recommendations to revive the textile industry in the country. Around 59,000 tons of cotton is grown in Afghanistan but there are no factories to process the fibre further. In the past, there were at least seven textile manufacturing plants in the country that employed 30,000 people.

“Industrialists have been asked for their recommendations on Kandahar and other textile companies so that the issue is discussed by the high economic council and it should be both in the interests of government and the private sector,” Afghan media reported quoting finance ministry spokesman Ajmal Hamid Abdul Rahimzai. 

Various wars over the years have destroyed the previously existing textile factories in Kabul, Balkh, Kandahar, Parwan, and Baghlan.

Afghanistan has already a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in place with the Indian government for developing its textile industry. As per the MoU, both countries agreed to cooperate in developing closer economic relations and strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of textiles, clothing, cotton, man-made fibre and handlooms.

Afghanistan is endowed with very rich quality of cotton, silk and cashmere, and hence it has huge potential for development of the textile industry, which is a good source for jobs and employment, Amar Sinha, Indian ambassador to Afghanistan, had said during the signing of the MoU in 2015.

The revival of the textile industry is important for economic development of Afghanistan and cotton can be one of the alternate crops to move away from opium cultivation. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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