Afghanistan's winning the first place for the best carpet design at the Istanbul 2026 exhibition among 19 countries was celebrated by promising to allocate land for industrial parks and naming a national carpet day in Kabul. Government officials and the private sector described this achievement as a symbol of cultural power and the key to developing Afghanistan's exports.
Publish dateMonday 2 February 2026 - 11:40
Story Code : 345242
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: Following Afghanistan's winning the first place for the best carpet design at the Istanbul 2026 International Carpet Exhibition, a meeting was held in Kabul today (Sunday, February 1) with the presence of government officials, private sector representatives and carpet industry companies.
The speakers at the meeting considered carpets to be more than a commercial product and introduced them as a representative of Afghanistan's culture, identity and economic potential.
Qurban Ali Jamshidzada, Technical Deputy of the Board of Directors of the Carpet Union, said in the program that carpets are not just a product, but also our culture and identity.
Congratulating the Sediq Qureshi Company, he stated that this company was able to win first place in the Istanbul Carpet Exhibition among 19 countries this year; a success that has been repeated by Afghan carpet companies in various exhibitions before and is considered a great honor for our country.
Referring to the existing challenges, he put forward suggestions to strengthen this industry and added that the creation of industrial towns for the carpet industry is an important necessity.
He added that in the past, thousands of acres of land were considered for this industry and our request to the government is that these plans be implemented practically.
Jamshidzadeh considered the resumption of 6 percent government cooperation for the carpet industry essential and emphasized that this industry cannot have sustainable growth without government support.
The technical deputy of the Carpet Union stated that supporting air corridors for more and faster carpet exports is a basic necessity.
He listed attracting international aid in the education and design sector, establishing specialized carpet colleges, preventing the export of raw and unprocessed carpets by customs, and naming an official day as “Carpet Day” by the Ministry of Information and Culture as other suggestions.
Jamshidzada added that if this industry is strengthened, thousands of Afghan families will benefit from it, and urged manufacturers to prioritize innovation in design and quality improvement.
Dr. Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy, said that any country that can properly introduce its identity and culture internationally will succeed in other areas as well.
According to him, every exported carpet can be an ambassador of Afghanistan and introduce the country’s nation to the world.
Mr. Nazari emphasized the need to remove transit barriers, identify new international markets, and the need for companies to innovate and be competitive in the quality sector.
Qudratullah Jamal, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, also stated that those who describe Afghanistan as needy and talentless will see a different picture of the country when they see our carpet industry and other industries.
He considered the carpet industry both a cultural pride and an important economic source and welcomed the proposal to name a day as “Carpet Day.”
Sher Mohammad Hatami, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, announced that the Islamic Emirate’s Supreme Leader has earmarked 72,000 acres of land for the private sector, industry, investment, and horticulture, part of which will be allocated to the carpet industry.
Khan Jan Alokozai, Representative of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade Sector, described carpets as “the red gold of Afghanistan” and said: Afghanistan has repeatedly won first place in this industry.
He emphasized the provision of government assistance to this industry and added that any law developed by ministries must be coordinated with the Ministry of Commerce and the private sector before being implemented.
He warned that showy and impractical plans, such as those carried out by the previous government regarding land allocation, should not be repeated.
Mufti Ahmad Zia, Deputy Minister of Justice for Cohesion, referring to the official registration of the Carpet Union, stated that the Islamic Emirate is working to improve the status of traders and solve their problems, and the necessary cooperation has been and will continue in the area of issuing licenses and removing administrative obstacles.
At the end of the meeting, the company of Sediq Qureshi was commended for winning first place for the best carpet design at the Istanbul International Exhibition 2026 among 19 countries, and this success was praised as a symbol of Afghanistan's cultural and economic strength.
The speakers at the meeting considered carpets to be more than a commercial product and introduced them as a representative of Afghanistan's culture, identity and economic potential.
Qurban Ali Jamshidzada, Technical Deputy of the Board of Directors of the Carpet Union, said in the program that carpets are not just a product, but also our culture and identity.
Congratulating the Sediq Qureshi Company, he stated that this company was able to win first place in the Istanbul Carpet Exhibition among 19 countries this year; a success that has been repeated by Afghan carpet companies in various exhibitions before and is considered a great honor for our country.
Referring to the existing challenges, he put forward suggestions to strengthen this industry and added that the creation of industrial towns for the carpet industry is an important necessity.
He added that in the past, thousands of acres of land were considered for this industry and our request to the government is that these plans be implemented practically.
Jamshidzadeh considered the resumption of 6 percent government cooperation for the carpet industry essential and emphasized that this industry cannot have sustainable growth without government support.
The technical deputy of the Carpet Union stated that supporting air corridors for more and faster carpet exports is a basic necessity.
He listed attracting international aid in the education and design sector, establishing specialized carpet colleges, preventing the export of raw and unprocessed carpets by customs, and naming an official day as “Carpet Day” by the Ministry of Information and Culture as other suggestions.
Jamshidzada added that if this industry is strengthened, thousands of Afghan families will benefit from it, and urged manufacturers to prioritize innovation in design and quality improvement.
Dr. Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy, said that any country that can properly introduce its identity and culture internationally will succeed in other areas as well.
According to him, every exported carpet can be an ambassador of Afghanistan and introduce the country’s nation to the world.
Mr. Nazari emphasized the need to remove transit barriers, identify new international markets, and the need for companies to innovate and be competitive in the quality sector.
Qudratullah Jamal, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, also stated that those who describe Afghanistan as needy and talentless will see a different picture of the country when they see our carpet industry and other industries.
He considered the carpet industry both a cultural pride and an important economic source and welcomed the proposal to name a day as “Carpet Day.”
Sher Mohammad Hatami, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, announced that the Islamic Emirate’s Supreme Leader has earmarked 72,000 acres of land for the private sector, industry, investment, and horticulture, part of which will be allocated to the carpet industry.
Khan Jan Alokozai, Representative of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade Sector, described carpets as “the red gold of Afghanistan” and said: Afghanistan has repeatedly won first place in this industry.
He emphasized the provision of government assistance to this industry and added that any law developed by ministries must be coordinated with the Ministry of Commerce and the private sector before being implemented.
He warned that showy and impractical plans, such as those carried out by the previous government regarding land allocation, should not be repeated.
Mufti Ahmad Zia, Deputy Minister of Justice for Cohesion, referring to the official registration of the Carpet Union, stated that the Islamic Emirate is working to improve the status of traders and solve their problems, and the necessary cooperation has been and will continue in the area of issuing licenses and removing administrative obstacles.
At the end of the meeting, the company of Sediq Qureshi was commended for winning first place for the best carpet design at the Istanbul International Exhibition 2026 among 19 countries, and this success was praised as a symbol of Afghanistan's cultural and economic strength.
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