Herat carpet factories meet 45 percent of domestic demand

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Local officials in Herat say that 20 factories producing machine-made carpets and rugs are currently operating in the western province’s industrial park, playing a key role in meeting the country’s domestic demand.

Naser Amin, head of the Herat Chamber of Industries and Mines, said that around 45 percent of the carpets and rugs required by Afghanistan’s internal markets are produced by factories operating in Herat.

He added that as several new companies were expected to begin operations within the next year, the sector was likely to witness a significant and noticeable growth.

According to Amin, these factories use advanced machinery to produce thousands of square meters of machine-made carpets and rugs on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, some industrialists say that if challenges such as electricity shortages and difficulties in importing raw materials are addressed, the production capacity of these factories could increase manifold.

Haji Ehsan, a carpet factory owner in Herat, said interest in investment in the manufacturing sector has increased, adding that the main concern facing production facilities is the shortage of electricity.

He noted that resolving this issue would allow production in the Herat industrial park to double.

At the same time, the industry has created employment opportunities for hundreds of people in Herat province.

Workers say that having stable jobs in these factories has given them renewed hope for their future.

Officials in the local administration of Herat province also say that the machine-made carpet and rug industry has become one of the key pillars of Afghanistan’s national economy.

Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi, spokesman for the Herat governor, also pointed to the operation of 20 factories in this sector and Herat’s contribution of 45 percent of domestic market demand as major factors driving the industry’s growth.

According to official statistics, fourteen carpet-producing companies and six machine-made rug-producing companies are currently operating in Herat province.

sa/ma