Assessing the Effects of the Outbreak of Covid-19 on the Supply Chain and the Requirements of the Large Markets of Afghanistan’s Handmade Carpets

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph. D., Islamic Arts, Faculty of Islamic Crafts, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz,. Iran.

2 Lecturer, Carpet Educational Department, University of Arak, Arak, Iran

Abstract

Carpet, as one of the most important handicrafts of Afghanistan, is offered in the form of “handwoven”, “twisted”, “vegetable dye” and “natural fibers” in the world markets. The development of carpet exports and the increase of added value in the trade of this sector of Afghan handicrafts, especially during the spread of Covid-19, is based on removing obstacles, both in the supply chain and the production value chain, and in the dual requirements of global market supply. The question is, what were the consequences of the outbreak of Covid-19 on the carpet supply chain, as well as the mandatory and optional export requirements, and in which sectors did it have the greatest impact? This research has been done with the descriptive-analytical method, using library and internet sources and reviewing and analyzing the last ten years statistics of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Afghanistan. The current research shows that the negative consequences of Covid-19 have affected all stages of the Afghan carpet supply chain, but it can be controlled in two stages, i.e. the stage of production and communication between incoming traders and weavers, as well as distribution in the domestic market, by observing health protocols and social distance. The spread of Covid-19 on the mandatory requirements for the entry of goods in the United States, due to the mandatory acquisition of certificates (CPSA) and in the euro area due to the need to obtain certificates in Turkey due to the existence of one of the six mandatory items in the EEC Directive, and due to the legal provisions of the control of goods. In Japan, it was effective and created obstacles in the process of exporting Afghan carpets to these countries. Also, Covid-19 had little effect on the mandatory requirements of the United Arab Emirates and on the optional requirements of the United States, the European Union, Turkey and Japan, but it interfered with the timely delivery of Afghan carpets at the entry points of the United Arab Emirates.

Keywords

Main Subjects