Afghans yearn for Indian investment in carpet industry

04 Sep '17

1 min read

Afghan investors who will attend the India-Afghanistan Trade and Investment Show in Delhi in September say they will urge Indian businessmen to invest in their carpet industry with the help of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Indian Government, which, they want, should establish a free market for Afghan carpets in India.

Carpet production in Afghanistan has dropped drastically in the last few years from two million cubic meters in 2010 to 40,000 cubic meters in 2017 and statistics show at least 75 percent of carpet weavers have left their profession.

Afghan investors said 90 percent of Afghanistan’s carpets are being sent to international markets under the name of Pakistan, thereby benefiting Pakistan, a leading Afghan TV network reported.

“We will increase our products if USAID rents a free zone for Afghan carpets in New Delhi or other cities in India,” said Haji Nabi, head of Afghanistan Carpet Industry Union.

Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) said Afghan investors will continue their efforts to replace Pakistan with India for their exports. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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