The Carpet Producers and Exporters Union was re-established in 2002 to support and protect those working in the industry. It is closely linked to the Ministry of Commerce and is charged with setting up exhibitions, providing export and business information to its members, maintaining quality and taking orders on their behalf from individuals and companies abroad.

There are no export license fees and now the private sector is encouraged to return and begin production in order to re-establish this once lucrative market. The government has constructed a plant in Begrami, east of Kabul, to dye and wash wool in order to ensure a high standard, and in Pol e Chakri a factory warehouse has been restored.

Whilst there is no tax for transporting or exporting carpets, the importation of carpets is strictly controlled. However, the borders are not well policed and illegal importation still occurs, flooding the market with low quality, inexpensive products and materials. Carpets from Iran are attractive and inexpensive, but they wear badly and don’t last long. The Union also controls the dyes and wools coming into Afghanistan, but again the porous border and weak control is an issue that must be addressed if Afghanistan wants to improve the quality of its crafts.

Creating a good carpet demands skilled weaving, high-quality hand-combed long wool with the appropriate number of threads per 10 centimetre area, good colours derived from either natural or high quality chemical dyes, and appropriate design for the market. In the past all of these were present to a very high level in Afghanistan; if Afghan carpet makers can provide them again in the future they will undoubtedly increase their share of the market.