AMBASSADOR JAWAD AND U.S. SECRETARY OF
COMMERCE SHOW SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN RUG INDUSTRY
07/21/2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 21, 2006
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Joshua Gross, Director of Media Relations
(202) 483-6410 ext. 8002
[email protected]
AMBASSADOR JAWAD AND U.S. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
SHOW SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN RUG INDUSTRY
WASHINGTON - Afghanistan’s rug industry
was featured during a reception hosted by the Embassy of Afghanistan
in Washington, D.C. on July 19. The event concluded the first
official joint U.S.-Afghan government delegation of Afghan rug
& carpet producers.
H.E. Ambassador Said T. Jawad welcomed the guests
stating, “I am honored to be here with you this afternoon
to showcase an Afghan product that is a symbol of our country’s
culture, history and tradition.” Remarks were also given
by U.S. Department of Commerce’s Assistant Secretary of
Market Access & Compliance and Chair of the Afghanistan
Investment & Reconstruction Task Force David Bohigian. Following
these speakers, the leader of the delegation Mr. Sayed Javed
Andish introduced his delegates and thanked the U.S. Department
of Commerce and the Embassy’s Economic, Trade & Investment
Department for providing opportunities to link directly to rug
importers in the United States.
The Embassy was especially honored by the presence
of U.S. Secretary of Commerce the Honorable Carlos M. Gutierrez,
who spoke warmly of the Afghan people whom he met while traveling
in Afghanistan earlier this year. He restated the United States’
long-term commitment to the economic revitalization of Afghanistan,
and encouraged the delegates to have an enormously successful
trip. Rug importers and collectors, U.S. government officials,
members of the Washington diplomatic community and other friends
of Afghanistan joined in welcoming the aspiring group of Afghan
businessmen.
The delegation arrived in the U.S. earlier this
week to attend the renowned Atlanta International Area Rug Market
where they were able to interact with carpet and rug producers
from all over the world. During their visit, the delegates attended
meetings with government and business leaders on how Afghan
rug makers can market and sell their unique hand-made rugs in
the U.S. market. This visit includes stops in Atlanta, GA, Washington,
D.C., Newark, NJ and New York, NY.
Two-way trade between the United States and Afghanistan
reached $330 million last year, a 43 percent increase over the
previous year. Afghan rugs are allowed access to the American
market duty free, and hand woven rugs were designated as duty
free in June 2005. Investment opportunities exist in Carpets
and Textiles as well as a variety of other sectors in Afghanistan.
Please visit www.afghanistan.business-gateways.com
for further information.
Afghan Delegation Website: Afghan Rugs 2 USA:
www.afghancarpet2usa.com
Afghan Investment and Reconstruction Taskforce: www.export.gov/afghanistan
The Economic, Trade & Investment Department
of the Embassy of Afghanistan under the leadership of the Ministry
of Commerce promotes economic and private sector development
in Afghanistan. The Department serves as an information resource
for companies interested in doing business in Afghanistan, while
advocating for policy issues important to Afghanistan before
U.S. government and multilateral institutions in Washington.
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