Afghan Rug Producers To Visit Las Vegas Market

Furniture World Magazine

In an effort to expose home furnishings buyers to a wide selection of products from around the world, World Market Center officials will welcome a delegation of Afghan rug producers to the United States for a special showcase on Afghanistan’s economic and cultural revival at the January Las Vegas Market, January 28 – February 1, 2008. Afghan Inspirations, located in Building B, showroom B-162, will exhibit some of the world’s most ornate and well-crafted hand-woven rugs, created by using centuries old weaving techniques. “World Market Center is honored to have been selected by the Department of Commerce as an international platform for this exhibit, which promises to be a rich presentation of products and culture,” said Tim Branscome, vice president of international business development for World Market Center. “This partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce will increase business ties, stimulate trade and assist Afghanistan to establish vendor relationships to export their impressive hand-woven rugs, which are among the cultural products they are known for around the world.” In addition to more than 10 Afghan carpet exporters featuring their products in this specialty showcase, the Afghan Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Mir Muhammad Amin Farhang, and Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad, Afghan Ambassador to the United States, will make a visit during the Afghan Gala and Buffet, January 29 from 5 – 7 p.m. This event will feature Afghan culture, cuisine, carpets, fashion and music. “For generations, Afghanistan has produced high-quality, hand-woven rugs that are renowned across the world for their intricate design and beauty,” said Under Secretary of the International Trade Administration, Christopher Padilla. “The industry is expected to grow substantially and this trade show marks the re-emergence of Afghanistan as a competitor in the global rug market.” The U.S. commercial relationship with Afghanistan continues to expand. As of October 2007, two-way trade reached $470 million, a 25 percent increase over 2006. As an element of this bilateral trade, Afghan rugs are allowed access to the American market duty free, creating opportunities that facilitate business partnerships. Hand woven rugs were designated as duty free under the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences program as part of a Presidential Proclamation in June 2005. The Commerce Department’s Afghanistan Investment and Reconstruction Task Force (AIRTF) has been working with the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan on a broad range of commercial initiatives, one being the collaboration to select and host rug producers for this delegation. In July 2006, the delegation visited the United States to learn about doing business in the textile industry. The delegation held meetings with government and business leaders on how Afghan rug makers can market and sell their unique hand-made rugs in the American market. The AIRTF continues to work to expand cooperation by helping U.S. companies develop partnerships with Afghan entrepreneurs; supporting future Afghan delegations; attending U.S. trade events; and providing training and capacity-building for Afghan companies. The Department will continue to facilitate U.S. – Afghan private sector linkages through missions to and from Afghanistan focusing on three priority sectors: rugs, fruits and nuts and mining. Background: Afghanistan is one of the leading manufactures of quality hand-woven rugs in the world. Rug production once was one of the country’s biggest industries and, before 1978, Afghanistan’s rugs ranked fifth amongst the country’s exports. Today, Afghan rug producers continue to be among the most innovative, experienced and dependable in the world and the rugs have become a part of Afghanistan’s national identity. The indigenous Afghan carpet sector absorbs many influences and traditions from the surrounding countries, stretching from China to Morocco, to produce the unique, rich and diverse hand-made rugs. Decades of war and instability in Afghanistan drove a great number of Afghans rug producers to Pakistan. Producers, who lived in refugee camps, continued to weave rugs and relied on rug production as their sole source of family income. Many Afghan rugs are finished in Pakistan and identified as Pakistani exports, hampering market recognition for Afghan rugs. The Afghan rug producers have had to overcome political upheaval, forced resettlement, a harsh climate and nomadic living conditions to produce the quality rugs that are rich in traditional colors and bold designs. The rug producers are among the most innovative, experienced and dependable in the word and many are from families with generations invested into the business. About World Market Center: World Market Center is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex in Las Vegas. Next summer when Building C opens, World Market Center will stand at more than 5 million square feet of space, exceeding the size of any wholesale merchandise mart in the United States. When fully built, at 12 million square feet in eight buildings, World Market Center will be the largest trade show complex in the world. The $3 billion, state-of-the-art campus will showcase furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, area rugs, home textile and related segments, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center (LVDC), which is open year-round to the trade. World Market Center produces the semi-annual Las Vegas Market, held every January and July, and is the fastest growing home furnishings trade show in the world. The Winter 2008 Las Vegas Market is scheduled for January 28 to February 1, 2008 at World Market Center’s Buildings A, B and Pavilions and tradeshow at the MGM Grand Hotel. For more information about World Market Center, and to find out about leasing or exhibiting opportunities, visit the website at www.LasVegasMarket.Com or call 888-WMC-SHOW (962-7469). About the Afghanistan Investment and Reconstruction Task Force: The Afghanistan Investment and Reconstruction Task Force of the U.S. Department of Commerce serves as a resource of information for U.S. companies interested in rebuilding and investing in Afghanistan. The task force works closely with the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, other U.S. government agencies, the Afghan Embassy, and international organizations to provide U.S. companies counseling on the latest developments and opportunities for rebuilding and investing in Afghanistan. For more information about the delegation, visit www.afghancarpet2usa.com and for more information about the Afghanistan Investment and Reconstruction Task Force, visit www.export.gov/afghanistan.