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After years of working to improve the quality of a variety of Afghan products, these products are beginning to show up in Afghan stores and, government trade officials hope, make an imprint on world markets. Afghan industrial facilities are now making such products as plastic sandals, boots and pipe as well as cleaning products. Afghan consumers are accustomed to getting such products that are made in Pakistan, Iran and China, but the domestic market is rapidly shifting to Afghan-made products, according to Abdul Jabar Safi, director of the Afghanistan Industrial Association.
“Today Afghan products are improved to international standards, especially plastic boots and pipes, as well as washing products like shampoo, soap and glass cleaner,” he said.
Ten years ago, Mr Safi explained, all plastic products in Afghanistan were made in Pakistan, Iran and China. Since then, 27 plastic manufacturing facilities have opened in Kabul, two in Herat and three in Balkh province. Now 90 per cent of plastic products are provided by these manufacturers, Mr Safi said.
Things have progressed to the point where manufacturers of these products are working on new markets in other countries.
Afghanistan is already exporting dried fruits, handicrafts, medicinal plants, animal skin and non-alcoholic beverages. If properly marketed, plastic products, cleaning products and personal hygiene products could join that list.
“It is a good step for Afghanistan’s economy,” said Khanjan Alokozay, deputy director of the Afghan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He said such products are developed to the point where they can compete internationally.
In the near future, Mr Safi said, Afghan traders will test the international market by exporting to Tajikistan, where there are good markets for Afghan products.
“In the future, we will export to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstani and Dubai too,” he said.
And the market has already been tested on a small scale. Mr Safi said that last year, members of his organisation exported three containers of plastic sandals to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The products were sold and the traders were satisfied with the price.
“This time, we will export all Afghan products labelled, “Made in Afghanistan,” he added. Often Afghan-made products such as carpets are shipped to Pakistan, where processed and then labelled as “Made in Pakistan.”
According to officials at the association, the first two factories to export plastic and cleaning products are in Kabul, called Marco Polo and Shurat. Ironically, the factories get some of their raw materials from Taiwan, which is one of the most successful exporting countries in the world. So, Afghan companies are already poised to compete with an international export power.
Mr Alokozay said that the Afghan government plays a key role in the development of these export markets. The government sets standards for manufacturers to meet that make these products more competitive abroad. Government trade representatives can also visit other countries to raise awareness of Afghan products. Often products are not exported because the producers are unknown to international buyers.
There are many producers in Herat, for instance, which make high-quality cleaning products. If those products become better-known outside of Afghanistan, Mr Alokozay believes, they can compete well on the international market.
According to Mr Safi, there are 281 factories in Kabul industrial parks and more than 22,000 Afghans working there.
http://www.sada-e-azadi.net/Joomla/i...ossing-borders
“Today Afghan products are improved to international standards, especially plastic boots and pipes, as well as washing products like shampoo, soap and glass cleaner,” he said.
Ten years ago, Mr Safi explained, all plastic products in Afghanistan were made in Pakistan, Iran and China. Since then, 27 plastic manufacturing facilities have opened in Kabul, two in Herat and three in Balkh province. Now 90 per cent of plastic products are provided by these manufacturers, Mr Safi said.
Things have progressed to the point where manufacturers of these products are working on new markets in other countries.
Afghanistan is already exporting dried fruits, handicrafts, medicinal plants, animal skin and non-alcoholic beverages. If properly marketed, plastic products, cleaning products and personal hygiene products could join that list.
“It is a good step for Afghanistan’s economy,” said Khanjan Alokozay, deputy director of the Afghan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He said such products are developed to the point where they can compete internationally.
In the near future, Mr Safi said, Afghan traders will test the international market by exporting to Tajikistan, where there are good markets for Afghan products.
“In the future, we will export to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstani and Dubai too,” he said.
And the market has already been tested on a small scale. Mr Safi said that last year, members of his organisation exported three containers of plastic sandals to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The products were sold and the traders were satisfied with the price.
“This time, we will export all Afghan products labelled, “Made in Afghanistan,” he added. Often Afghan-made products such as carpets are shipped to Pakistan, where processed and then labelled as “Made in Pakistan.”
According to officials at the association, the first two factories to export plastic and cleaning products are in Kabul, called Marco Polo and Shurat. Ironically, the factories get some of their raw materials from Taiwan, which is one of the most successful exporting countries in the world. So, Afghan companies are already poised to compete with an international export power.
Mr Alokozay said that the Afghan government plays a key role in the development of these export markets. The government sets standards for manufacturers to meet that make these products more competitive abroad. Government trade representatives can also visit other countries to raise awareness of Afghan products. Often products are not exported because the producers are unknown to international buyers.
There are many producers in Herat, for instance, which make high-quality cleaning products. If those products become better-known outside of Afghanistan, Mr Alokozay believes, they can compete well on the international market.
According to Mr Safi, there are 281 factories in Kabul industrial parks and more than 22,000 Afghans working there.
http://www.sada-e-azadi.net/Joomla/i...ossing-borders
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