Training Afghan Rug and Carpet Producers
September 28, 2011Ariana Marshall is an International Trade Specialist in the Afghanistan Investment & Reconstruction Task Force of the International Trade Administration.
In the past week, the U.S. Department of Commerce launched a series of training sessions for Afghan rug and carpet producers in the cities of Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat, Afghanistan, on how to export to the United States. Sponsored in partnership with the Export Promotion Agency Afghanistan (EPAA), two American carpet importers and retailers instructed Afghan weavers on techniques for enhancing their sales prospects in the U.S. market. This initiative is an important step in growing the economy of Afghanistan, helping them transition to a stable and sustainable future.
Commerce staff worked closely with the EPAA and other U.S. and Afghan partners to draw over 200 Afghan participants to the trainings, with plans to continue developing follow-on activities to support the growth in export skills of these Afghan rug and carpet producers.
Anything that we can do to get the Afghan people to a place where they can earn wages and get to a positive economic status that does not rely on U.S. financial support is a step in the right direction in my books.
I agree with Sally – these kinds of training initiatives are an absolute must. It’s the ‘feed a man for a day’ v ‘teach him how to fish’
Keep up the good work.
cant they think of some other way of doing work.
Good for them. They are good carpet maker and they must developed it.
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The government should do more of this training. We need more fine imported rugs here in the US.
I’m in favor on what the US Department of Commerce are doing, they share their knowledge on how to make rugs and carpets in such a way that the Afghan can survive their daily living and a bright future.. Well afghan have lots of materials to make rugs and carpets, so they should make it as they asset to their place.. I also agree that, “don’t feed a man everyday with a fish” Instead, “Give him a fishing rod”..
US Department of Commerce is a big example to other Government agency around the world. We all know that Afghanistan is not an allied of the USA but still the US Department of Commerce show some love in a way of helping the afghan to provide a business that surely an asset of the afghan. I Agree with “Business Process Outsourcing” that “don’t feed a man everyday with a fish” Instead, “give him a fishing rod”.
This is the right direction to head in; that of allowing Afghanistan a step towards economic self-sufficiency. Given they are known world wide, and throughout history, for their exquisite tapestries and hand-woven artwork, it is only suitable to build an industry around their traditional strengths. In a sense, this actually helps with ‘brand awareness’(given the term Afghan is synonymous with ‘rug’). It furthermore helps strengthen the US economy via both rug outlets and professional rug cleaning companies.
I agree with you totally and not only the US economy strenghtens up but our political relations and good name within other foreign affairs. Lately US has been under a lot of political crossfire from other UN countries of it’s foreign poicy and “economic opression” towards other countries.
It’s great that two American carpet importers and retailers instructed Afghan weavers on techniques for enhancing their sales prospects in the U.S. market.
Its good to see things like this happen, helping out poorer countries!
This is exactly why we need training. I assume this is to back up the regulations? I hope they keep doing this type of training. We need to get more rugs imported.
i am sure these make carpets and rugs make beautiful souvenirs besides bring hope and future to the Afghan women