Afghan Exporters Reach Final of World Competition

KABUL, September 28 (Quqnoos): Afghanistan’s Export Development Department (AEDD) has reached the final of an international competition to find the organisation which has had the largest impact on reducing poverty and expanding trade in the world.

The AEDD, which recently launched micro-credit programmes for carpet-weavers, competed with 14 other organisations from different countries, reaching the final along with a group from Senegal.

Head of the AEDD, Said Suliman Fatimi, said: "We are making efforts to get the prize and we are hopeful too because all our programs in the past and present obey world standards."

The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) said it would donate $150,000 to the AEDD to expand the carpet weaving industry.

The co-ordinator of rural programs for the SCA, Dr. Nazir Qayoom, said: "We have a long-term program to help Afghanistan’s carpet weavers increase their economic conditions so that they will become self-sufficient."