KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani has appreciated the role of the carpet-manufacturing sector, employing 1.6 million people, in the promotion of Afghanistan’s economy.

At a meeting with representatives of the carpet industry at the Presidential Palace in Kabul on Wednesday evening, Ghani praised the sector’s contribution to the generation of employment opportunities.

A statement from the president’s office said the participants consulted Ghani on how to enhance cooperation with Turkmenistan in the area of carpet production.

During an upcoming visit of Turkmenistan’s president to Kabul on Thursday (today), the issue of bilateral cooperation in the vital sector would come up for discussion.

The statement quoted the president as directing the Ministry of Commerce to present him proposals within two weeks its strategy for resolving the problems being encountered by carpet producers. 

Representatives of the industry briefed the president on issues related to carpet production, raw materials, exports, encroachment on their property, a total absence of rug laundry services, opportunities and needs. 

They called joint organising Afghan-Turkmen exhibitions, market access, creating industrial parks, availability of raw materials, setting up vocational schools to modernise the industry important features of cooperation with Turkmenistan.(Pajhwok)