Afghan Carpet
An Analysis of Business Opportunities within Afghanistan’s Carpet Sector
Prepared by: Mark T. McCord, IOM, CCE CEO The McCord Group May, 2007
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Analysis of Business Opportunities Within Afghanistan’s Carpet Sector May, 2007
Overview of the Afghan Carpet Sector
Afghanistan’s thriving carpets and textiles trade is a legacy of the country’s rich commercial history and diverse culture. World-renowned for their intricate designs, Afghan carpets reflect the heritage of cottage-based craftsmanship passed through generations of families. Afghanistan produces several types of handmade carpets, including felted wool carpets (namads), flat non-pile fabric woven carpets (kilims), and pile and knotted carpets made from wool, silk, and cotton. Although carpet weaving by far dominates this sector, other textile items of cotton, wool, silk and cashmere are also made in Afghanistan. The manufacture of carpets is largely accomplished by a huge network of weavers working on individual carpets throughout Afghanistan’s countryside. As testament to the meticulous nature of the art, one large carpet typically takes six to nine months to weave. Numerous dealers or traders contract upfront with the weavers, or purchase the carpets prior to final finishing for eventual sale to retail and wholesale customers on a global basis. In their role, the traders perform a variety of functions related to production and sale. According to the Afghanistan Carpet Exporters Guild (ACEG), over one million Afghans work in the production of carpets, with millions more working in compatible industries such as wool production, cutting/washing and design. Because of this, the carpet sector has become a major focus for Afghanistan’s government and private sector support organizations. For example, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Commerce formed a carpet consortium in 2005 in order to utilize the combined strength of carpet producers to create visibility in the marketplace. The Afghanistan Investment
Prepared by: Mark T. McCord, IOM, CCE CEO The McCord Group May, 2007
1
Analysis of Business Opportunities Within Afghanistan’s Carpet Sector May, 2007
Overview of the Afghan Carpet Sector
Afghanistan’s thriving carpets and textiles trade is a legacy of the country’s rich commercial history and diverse culture. World-renowned for their intricate designs, Afghan carpets reflect the heritage of cottage-based craftsmanship passed through generations of families. Afghanistan produces several types of handmade carpets, including felted wool carpets (namads), flat non-pile fabric woven carpets (kilims), and pile and knotted carpets made from wool, silk, and cotton. Although carpet weaving by far dominates this sector, other textile items of cotton, wool, silk and cashmere are also made in Afghanistan. The manufacture of carpets is largely accomplished by a huge network of weavers working on individual carpets throughout Afghanistan’s countryside. As testament to the meticulous nature of the art, one large carpet typically takes six to nine months to weave. Numerous dealers or traders contract upfront with the weavers, or purchase the carpets prior to final finishing for eventual sale to retail and wholesale customers on a global basis. In their role, the traders perform a variety of functions related to production and sale. According to the Afghanistan Carpet Exporters Guild (ACEG), over one million Afghans work in the production of carpets, with millions more working in compatible industries such as wool production, cutting/washing and design. Because of this, the carpet sector has become a major focus for Afghanistan’s government and private sector support organizations. For example, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Commerce formed a carpet consortium in 2005 in order to utilize the combined strength of carpet producers to create visibility in the marketplace. The Afghanistan Investment